Fonte: ROTUR. Revista de Ocio y Turismo; Vol. 15 No. 1 (2021); 22-38
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Resumo: The aim of this paper is to show how interurban competition as a result of the intensification of neoliberalism impacts on cities and city centres. The study focuses on the increase in tourism activity and its cultural impact on urban centres, starting with city branding by councils and private agents and the use of culture as a tool of attraction and identity. The cases of Madrid and Barcelona during the early years of the 21century (up to the political change in local government in 2015) are a good example of how public and private powers promote an image of the city that is attractive for specific users (tourists and new urban consumers) but excludes or silences the popular classes, immigrants, older people, etc. The study concludes with a series of reflections on governing tourist cities more sustainably. The theoretical framework for the research combines neoliberalism in cities (Brenner and Theodore, 2003), urban promotion through the image (Gómez Schiattini et al. 2008; Zukin 1995; Florida 2009) and, most significantly, the process of city centre gentrification as revitalised spaces par excellence (Sassen 2014; Lees et al. 2008; Smith 1996; Butler 1997; Hamnet 2003) that brings with it the physical and symbolic expulsion of its former inhabitants. Qualitative analysis is conducted using secondary data and interviews.
