The Airbnb effect on areas subject to urban renewal in Valencia (Spain)

Abstract

Purpose In the past decade, urban tourism has increased worldwide as a result of the development of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation platforms such as Airbnb, causing a major disruption to the tourism industry and urban space. The expansion of tourist accommodation in cities has motivated many governments to act, to control its effects and reduce conflicts between tourists and residents. The purpose of this paper is to identify the attractions that have motivated the concentration of P2P accommodation and its effects in specific areas of Valencia different from the historical centre: the Russafa and El Cabanyal-Canyamelar neighbourhoods. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used includes fieldwork and spatial analysis of factors such as the housing market, tourist attractions, local businesses and urban renewal policies. Findings The current spatial distribution pattern of tourist housing in Valencia is the result of the convergence of various factors: the initial presence of tourists in some areas; the evolution of certain aspects of the neighbourhood due to urban renewal; the concentration of tourist and leisure activities; the effects of the legal framework Originality/value Many researchers have addressed the effects of rising short-term rentals (STRs) in cities, but the causes of their concentration in specific neighbourhoods different from historical centres have not yet been sufficiently investigated. This research looks in depth at the urban causes and effects of the spatial distribution of tourist housing in Valencia, to anticipate possible future concentrations of STRs in other areas and to avoid gentrification. The methodology and results could be applied to other cities. The research implies a detailed and analysis of different aspects that act simultaneously such as the housing market, the evolution of the population and changes in the business.

The Geography of Social Media Data in Urban Areas: Representativeness and Complementarity

“…Tourism growth in Valencia was also reflected in the presence of Airbnb properties located, following the trend of other Spanish towns, particularly in the city center and close to tourist hotspots [54]. This was related to the presence of touristic sites and the concentration of leisure activities, but there were also other factors related to the spatial distribution of these properties, such as urban renewal strategies in certain areas or neighborhoods, or the legal framework [55]. However, the lack of a regulatory framework means that those areas where most short-rental Airbnb properties were concentrated, were also experiencing gentrification [56].…”

Addressing data quality in Airbnb research

“…a situation in which guests contact hosts directly to avoid paying the Airbnb fee), Airbnb latitude-longitude coordinates represent only a random point within a 200 m radius of the listing’s actual location rather than the exact location (Deboosere et al , 2019) [according to different sources, it is 137 m (Campbell et al , 2019), 150 m (Camarillo-Naranjo et al , 2022) or 500 m (Kadi et al , 2019)]. According to García-Amaya et al (2021), before 2018 geographical coordinates had also been falsified by hosts operating in the grey economy to deceive local tourism authorities.…”

The touristification of urban spaces: measurement proposal

“…The majority of the studies on touristification only use indicators of intensity and tourism accommodation density relating STR with the population and area. Grisdale (2021) applies these indicators to the census sections in Toronto, Lagonigro et al (2020) to Barcelona, García-Amaya et al ) to Valencia, Cerezo-Medina et al (2022 to Córdoba, Granada, Málaga and Seville.…”