Analysis of press discourse on tourismphobia in Barcelona: perspectives, trends, and narratives within the communication framework

Abstract

This article provides an examination of how the Spanish press covers the phenomenon known as tourismphobia in Barcelona, highlighting the importance of the media treatment of tourismphobia in a context marked by the unease generated by touristification. The first objective was to understand the social reaction to Barcelona’s tourism model, expressed through the debate on tourismphobia in the written press, which reflected the social importance of this activity; secondly, to analyse how the discourse on tourismphobia is socially constructed through identifying and analysis of narratives. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative methodology including bibliometric, discursive and narrative analysis was employed, using news items from six newspapers on tourismphobia in Barcelona. The results indicated the ideological use of narratives by the media. The conclusions of the study revealed that tourismphobia was instrumentalized according to particular positionings linked to power relations. This study constitutes a valuable contribution to the understanding of press attitudes towards tourismphobia in the psychosocial construction of local community attitudes.