CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM USING BARCELONA AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The study focuses on the context of sustainable tourism through a literature review examining the
phenomenon of overtourism, which had become common prior to the current global pandemic and
the efforts made to adjust for it. The global coronavirus pandemic has drastically impacted tourism,
endangering the livelihoods of many, while also bringing temporary cessation of overtourism.
However, the question is: to what extent and how the world is preparing and dealing with bringing
tourism back to pre-pandemic level and if that level of tourism can be sustainable. The study
presents the phenomenon of overtourism and uses Barcelona as a case study of a city that
implemented changes to tackle the issues of overtourism. It also points out the extent of imbalance
created by overtourism on the living conditions of the local population and what measures the city
government finally took to address excessive tourism prior to the pandemic.