Contribution short abstract

The so-called quasi-tourists share the same concerns as local residents in destinations that are attractive for living, working, studying, and visiting, as is the case with Barcelona

Contribution long abstract

The international tourist attraction of Barcelona is not new, since 1992, when the city hosted the Olympic Games, the number of tourists and accommodations has not stopped increasing. Online marketplaces such as Airbnb have revolutionized this growth and contributed to the so-called “airbnbfication” process that has come into conflict with residential housing. To these international tourists, we have to add international student, expats, and digital nomads who look for a new experience in the city, which entails staying in a neighborhood and living it intensely. This ongoing research analyzes 1) the housing effects of this intense accommodation demand (short-term and mid-term rentals) in urban destinations that are touristically consolidated with high airbnbfication density, 2) the changes and transformations that neighborhoods are suffering regarding commerce, social interaction, and public space caused by these new international lifestyles, and 3) the public policies to manage these flux of population. Methodologically, it is analyzed the grey literature and secondary data related to tourists, foreigner entries and their sociodemographic characteristics published by INE and those provided by Barcelona City Council and Catalan Universities. It also uses primary data collected from a survey with 150 respondents (ex-pats, acadèmic tourists and digital nomads), which has led to some preliminary results about the changes and new lifestyles in the day-to-day life of cities according to this transnacional gaze, and the challenges and concerns for the local administration management.