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Are Social Media Data Pushing Overtourism? The Case of Barcelona and Chinese Tourists

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  • María-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida

    (Business Organization Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

  • Fernando Borrajo-Millán

    (Business Organization Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

  • Liu Yi

    (School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China)

Abstract

Overtourism spoils the good economic and social results produced by the tourism sector, causing reductions in the quality of service of the tourist destination and rejection by the local population. Previous literature has suggested that social networks and new electronic channels could be accelerators of the process of overcrowding destinations; however, this link has not been established. For this reason, in this exploratory study, the influence of social networks on overtourism is analysed using Barcelona as a base, as Barcelona is a massively popular destination in the country that is second in the world in reception of tourists to Spain. This study is also focused on Chinese tourism, which brings large numbers of tourists and presents great economic potential. Two types of study have been used: big data techniques applied to social media with sentimental analysis, and analysis of travel packages offered in China to travel to Spain. Relevant results are obtained to understand the influence of social networks on the travel behaviour of tourists, possible contributions to overtourism, and recommendations for the management of tourism.

Suggested Citation

  • María-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida & Fernando Borrajo-Millán & Liu Yi, 2019. "Are Social Media Data Pushing Overtourism? The Case of Barcelona and Chinese Tourists," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3356-:d:240619
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Michał Żemła, 2020. "Reasons and Consequences of Overtourism in Contemporary Cities—Knowledge Gaps and Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Maximilian Benner, 2020. "The Decline of Tourist Destinations: An Evolutionary Perspective on Overtourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Oliver Fritz & Karin Maier, 2019. "Wenn Reisende zur Belastung werden. Eine ökonomische Einordnung des Phänomens Übertourismus und der tourismuspolitischen Optionen zu seiner Bekämpfung," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 92(11), pages 821-831, November.
    4. Mingge Tian & Gemma Cànoves & Yujing Chu & Jaume Font-Garolera & José María Prat Forga, 2021. "Influence of Cultural Background on Visitor Segments’ Tourist Destination Image: A Case Study of Barcelona and Chinese Tourists," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Eva Martin-Fuentes & Jorge Nieto Ferrando & Estela Marine-Roig & Berta Ferrer-Rosell, 2020. "From Blockbuster to Neighbourhood Buster: The Effect of Films on Barcelona," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, March.
    6. Maria del Mar Alonso-Almeida, 2023. "Could Failures in Peer to Peer Accommodation Be a Threat to Public Health and Safety? An Analysis of Users Experiences after the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Manuel de la Calle-Vaquero & María García-Hernández & Sofía Mendoza de Miguel, 2020. "Urban Planning Regulations for Tourism in the Context of Overtourism. Applications in Historic Centres," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-22, December.
    8. César Camisón, 2020. "Competitiveness and Sustainability in Tourist Firms and Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-6, March.
    9. José Miguel Rodríguez-Antón & María del Mar Alonso-Almeida, 2019. "The Circular Economy Strategy in Hospitality: A Multicase Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-14, October.
    10. Nuria Huete-Alcocer & Miguel Ángel Valero-Tévar, 2021. "Impact of Information Sources on Promoting Tourism in a Rural Region: The Case of the Roman Villa of Noheda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-23, July.
    11. Fernando Borrajo-Millán & María-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida & María Escat-Cortes & Liu Yi, 2021. "Sentiment Analysis to Measure Quality and Build Sustainability in Tourism Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, May.
    12. Mahmut Barakazı, 2023. "Unsustainable Tourism Approaches in Touristic Destinations: A Case Study in Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    13. Hyung Min Lee & Jinwoo Park & Yoonjae Nam, 2020. "A Sustainable Solution to Overtourism in the Social Media Era: An Exploratory Analysis on the Roles and Functions of Place–Visitor Relationship (PVR)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, April.
    14. Eva M. Buitrago & Rocío Yñiguez, 2021. "Measuring Overtourism: A Necessary Tool for Landscape Planning," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Mihalic, Tanja, 2020. "Conceptualising overtourism: A sustainability approach," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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