Another face of 'mass tourism': San Sebastián and Spanish beach resorts under Franco, 1936–1975. (4th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: WALTON, JOHN K.
• Is Part Of: Urban history. Volume 40:Part 3(2013)
• Page Start: 483
• Page End: 506
• Publication Date: 2013-04-04
• Subjects: Cities and towns -- History -- Periodicals; Cities and towns -- History -- Bibliography -- Periodicals; 909.09732
• DOI: 10.1017/S0963926813000370
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-9268

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Histories of the 'mass tourism' of sunshine and beaches, and of the 'package holiday', in post-war Europe have tended to focus on the activities of big international companies and the role of governments. This has certainly been the case in Spain. This article recovers an earlier version of the urban history of coastal tourism in southern Europe, focusing on the resort of San Sebastián in the Spanish Basque Country, and thereby drawing attention to the neglected Atlantic dimension of Spanish coastal tourism. It then examines the responses of an established resort and summer capital to the new developments of the post-Civil War years, and shows how the decline of an older model of aristocratic tourism was counterbalanced by the development of new holiday markets and practices, many of which arose spontaneously beyond the regulatory and promotional gaze of the local authorities.