[Spanish-speaking World Economic Report] The Problem of Overtourism as Seen in Spain and France

~When settings change, results change: A recommendation for multifaceted perspectives and compound viewpoints~

Hello, good evening, and good morning.

I am Ada-chan, an active Spanish translator, interpreter, instructor, and coach who supports language learning that changes lives.

Thank you for visiting my note again today.

Today's theme is reconstructed based on the content of "Spain and France: The Problem of Overtourism" which I broadcasted on Stand.fm on 7/26 ( https://stand.fm/episodes/688504eac4c929f50125d009).

This time, I would like to take up the topic of "The Overtourism Problem as Seen in Spain and France," and the trigger for this was the following article.

Spain and France: Differences between Tourism Powerhouses

First, to review the article, Spain and France are leading tourism powerhouses in Europe. The annual number of tourists in both reaches the 100 million scale, which is more than double that of Japan (approximately 40 million). This is against the backdrop of the geographical conditions of Europe being connected by land and the long vacation culture that is considered standard in Europe.

However, despite accepting a similarly large number of tourists, while significant backlash is less likely to occur in France, overtourism has emerged as a serious problem in Spain.

Tourists Concentrated in Barcelona and Urban Areas and the Pressure on Citizen Life

Barcelona, the central city of the Catalonia region which is essential for travel to Spain, is a city with a population of about 1.6 million, but it is said that tens of millions of tourists visit annually.

Most of them visit for Gaudi architecture represented by the Sagrada Familia (Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, etc.) and the scenery along the Mediterranean coast, and the influx of tourists far exceeding the citizen population has become the norm.

While tourism revenue brings great benefits to the regional economy,

• soaring housing prices

• strain on public transportation and waste disposal infrastructure

• living spaces turning into "stages for tourism consumption"

friction between local residents and tourists is increasing due to things like these. This is the background to the backlash against overtourism in Spain. In Japan, the rise in housing costs due to real estate buyouts by private lodging operators in large cities and similar harmful effects in places like Kyoto have been highlighted, so this is a story that does not sound like someone else's problem at all.

Temperature Differences Created by Differences in Industrial Structure and Economic Conditions

In the case of France

In France, tourist spots are dispersed throughout the country. Not only Mont Saint-Michel and Paris, but regional cities such as Lyon, Toulouse, and Strasbourg also have tourism resources, and a feature is that it is difficult for tourists to concentrate in one place.

Furthermore, the French economy has a relatively diversified industrial structure including manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and the proportion accounted for by the tourism industry is not as high as in Spain.

In the case of Spain

On the other hand, Spain has a skewed industrial structure due to its geographical conditions and historical background. Much of the country consists of arid or mountainous regions, agriculture is limited to products like olives, wheat, and grapes, and its industrial base is not as strong as France's. Furthermore, the population and tourist destinations are concentrated in urban areas.

Therefore, the proportion of GDP accounted for by the tourism industry is extremely high, creating an economic situation dependent on tourism.

The reality of a 'tourism-dependent economy' reflected in the unemployment rate

Another major issue for the Spanish economy is its chronic high unemployment rate.

• Japan's unemployment rate: around 2-3%

• Spain's unemployment rate: has remained in the 10-20% range for many years

• Youth unemployment rate: can reach nearly 40%

Amidst such structural problems, the tourism industry is one of the few hopes for creating jobs. Therefore, despite the frustration that 'there are too many tourists,' there is a dilemma where they cannot stop tourism.

Tourism is also important in France, but because there is diversity in the industrial base, there is not as much of an urgent sense of 'whether or not to depend on the tourism industry' as there is in Spain.

Comparison of tourist spending

Also, as mentioned in the article, it can be pointed out that in Spain, longer stays compared to France lead to a trade-off between the increase in total tourist stay days and spending amounts.
Spain: 126 billion euros (approx. 21.79 trillion yen)
France: 71 billion euros (approx. 12.28 trillion yen)

While it may not be double, looking at this alone shows a major difference, and it is estimated that in Spain in particular, it accounts for as much as 12% of GDP.
It is 3-4% in France and 5-6% in Japan, which shows how much of an impact it has on the economy.

The overtourism problem for Japan

Looking back at the situation in Japan, the number of foreign visitors to Japan is increasing year by year, and while the average length of stay is said to be 6-7 days, spending per person has reached 100,000 to 200,000 yen.

While the tourism industry enriches local economies, friction with the lives of residents has begun to stand out in historical cities such as Kyoto and Kamakura. The case of Spain can be said to be a preview of the challenges Japan will face in the future.

Tourism is a 'blessing that enriches the region' while also being a 'burden that puts pressure on daily life.' How we face this contradiction is directly linked to Japan's industrial structure and the future image of its regions.

Differences between Spain and France seen in strike culture

From my own experience, I also feel the difference in the attitudes of both countries toward the 'balance between tourism and daily life'.

In France, strikes in public transportation and service industries occur frequently. I actually experienced this myself while traveling in Paris; at a subway station near the Arc de Triomphe, the trains suddenly stopped coming, and I encountered a situation where passengers were returning to the ticket gates one after another. I heard someone say, "It might not come for at least two or three hours," and despite not speaking French, I had to endure a bus ride and take a different subway line to get back to my accommodation. I never imagined such a thing would happen so unexpectedly near the Arc de Triomphe, which is the center of tourism, and it made me realize that even foreign tourists are not spared from the impact. In short, a culture of voicing complaints as a society if there is dissatisfaction is deeply rooted, but that also includes the idea that causing inconvenience to others is secondary.

On the other hand, while Spain also has strikes, when they reach a scale that involves the entire country, they can cause major social chaos. While general strikes do exist, my impression is that they are not as frequent as in France when it comes to individual issues. I feel this also reflects the social structure of Spain, which has a high dependence on tourism.

If the settings change, the results change too

As we have seen so far, even for the same "tourism-oriented countries," the perception and impact of overtourism change significantly depending on differences in industrial structure and economic conditions.

• France: Diversified industry × Decentralization of tourism → Low friction

• Spain: Tourism-dependent economy × Urban concentration → High friction

This comparison provides important implications for Japan as well. In other words, "If the settings (industrial structure and social background) change, the same result (an increase in tourists) will lead to completely different phenomena."

The importance of having a multifaceted perspective and a compound viewpoint

The problem of overtourism cannot be dismissed simply by saying "there are too many tourists."

• Economic mechanisms (industrial structure)

• Employment situation (high unemployment rate)

• National character and the nature of social movements

• Degree of dispersion of tourism resources

By grasping these with a compound viewpoint, more realistic solutions and paths toward coexistence become visible.

Discussing with local people through language learning, reading the news, and feeling the economic situation firsthand. Aren't these experiences the very "assets that broaden your perspective"?

Summary: Thinking between tourism and the economy

• Even though Spain and France are both major tourism powers, their perceptions of overtourism differ

• Behind this are differences in industrial structure, economic conditions, and unemployment rates

• Japan is also highly likely to face the same problem in the future

• A "multifaceted perspective" and "compound viewpoint" are indispensable for a solution

Welcoming tourists is both an opportunity and a risk for a region. Learning from the cases of Spain and France should provide hints for thinking about the future of Japan.
Thank you and see you later!