Historic Cities and Tourism: Functional Dynamics and Urban Policy

Within the context of far-reaching functional and social changes in the urban environment, historic Spanish cities are consolidating their position as important tourist destinations. Old and new functions coexist in permanent tension, the tension of change, and urban and tourism planning faces problems in adapting older cities scapes to new needs. An interesting process of urban recovery is taking place, with different impacts on different types of city, while the number of visitors, mostly Spanish, is rising significantly. At the same time, the stock of hotels and restaurants has been modernised, hospitality services improved, city centres made more compatible, and the range of cultural events widened. The explosion of mass tourism offers a new opportunity to address the issue of the functionality of the historic city and to establish new uses for underemployed heritage and city centre features.