Non-planning and tourism consumption in Budapest's inner city

Budapest's District VII exemplifies how unstructured urban planning can both hinder and facilitate tourism-driven development. The study reveals that despite limited official regulation, the district has become a hotspot for hospitality and creative industries, particularly 'ruin bars' and Airbnb accommodations, which have thrived due to their informal, adaptive nature. This case highlights Budapest's unique trajectory as a post-socialist city, where slow gentrification and lack of planning paradoxically fostered innovative tourism consumption models. The research addresses two key questions: the extent to which non-planning influences urban development and tourism trends, and how tourism reshapes inner-city districts. It combines historical analysis with data on 'ruin bars' and Airbnb's global impact, offering insights into the unintended consequences of unregulated urban growth.

Smith, M. K., Egedy, T., Csizmady, A., Jancsik, A., Olt, G., & Michalkó, G. (2017). Non-planning and tourism consumption in Budapest’s inner city. Tourism Geographies, 20(3), 524–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2017.1387809