Tourism in Valencia is on the Rise — for Better or for Worse

Plaza de la Virgen is one of the many beautiful plazas located in the old city of Valencia. Although many come to visit this plaza daily, these numbers increase around festivals such as Corpus Christi and Fallas.

Although Valencia is smaller than both Barcelona and Madrid, it has claimed its spot as the third largest city in Spain with a population nearing 900,000. Due to its temperate climate, coastal proximity and rich history, it has recently been shifting from a city off the beaten path into a must-see destination.

In a study conducted by the City of Valencia, international tourism increased by 9.5% in 2017. The study also found that in the summer months of 2017, the number of overnight stays neared 600,000. As these numbers continue to increase, both economic and cultural changes are happening to accommodate the changing demands.

One of the most visible affects that tourism has had on the city is economical. Aside from the increase of income for artisans, food carts and tourist shops, the hotel and restaurant economies have also benefitted greatly.

The revenue that tourism has fueled has created opportunities of increased or improved infrastructure by the city.

It is no mystery why this city attracts so many visitors. With a wide variety of museums, beaches, parks and leisure options, this city lends itself nicely to visitors of any age. In 2017, L’Oceanographic Aquarium welcomed nearly 1.4 million visitors and museums and monuments saw nearly 3.6 million visitors.

Although there are positive affects of tourism, there are also negatives. One problem that is contributed to as a result of this influx of people is traffic. Increased taxi use, tour bus use, bike tourism, and pedestrians not only pose an inconvenience but can also potentially be dangerous.

Overcrowding is an addition inconvenience posed by the large number of visitors. During their biggest festival, Fallas, the city hosts more than a million visitors.

Tourism also provides beggars easier access to hand outs which can have both positive and negative implication.

In some cases, tourism can make life more difficult for residents of Valencia. One tagger takes this discomfort to the extreme, writing “tourist, you are the terrorist,” on the wall of a building in the city’s center.

Whether increased tourism is viewed through the lens of increased opportunity and stability for a city, or conversely as parasitic and corrosive, the fact remains that tourism in Valencia is in a solid upward trend and likely will not decrease anytime soon. However, even with the millions of visitors per year, there still remain many less-frequented hidden Valencia gems just waiting to be explored.