Relations between ground floor activity and the touristification of public spaces in historic port centres: three case studies of the Western Mediterranean Arc

Historic port centres in the Western Mediterranean are undergoing significant urban transformations due to touristification, with commercial gentrification and privatisation of public spaces reshaping these areas. This study introduces a comprehensive methodology to identify gentrified and touristified zones by analysing ground floor activities, franchising, and privatisation patterns. Applying this approach to Genoa (Italy), Málaga (Spain), and Nice (France)—cities with varying tourism pressures—researchers found distinct urban dynamics: Genoa shows signs of commercial dominance and early gentrification; Málaga exhibits extreme polarisation in commerce and catering, alongside intense privatisation; while Nice is marked by high catering activity and widespread public space privatisation. These findings underscore how ground floor use evolves under different tourism pressures, offering critical insights for sustainable urban development strategies.

Conejo-Arrabal, F., Nebot-Gómez de Salazar, N., Rosa-Jiménez, C., & Navarro, M. (2025). Relations between ground floor activity and the touristification of public spaces in historic port centres: three case studies of the Western Mediterranean Arc. European Journal of Tourism Research, 41, 4116. https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v41i.4104