Tourism in Spain: From the Franco Boom to Today’s Ecological and Social Limits With Joan Buades.

“In 1951, the millionth tourist arrived in Spanish territory. That same year, the first U.S. ambassador also arrived. Thus began an alliance between tourism, Francoism, and capitalism that continues to this day,” says Cristina Masanés. Joan Buades is convinced that tourism saved Francoism. As a researcher and professor specializing in tourism, globalization, and climate change research. In Catalonia, we have 3.4 tourists per inhabitant per year, three times more than in France, an economic model (strongly linked to tax havens) that results in poverty. A model that also contributes to worsening the climate crisis and the risk of drought. In this conference, we will discuss all these topics and explore whether alternative models exist or how to have a more prosperous, socially just, and ecologically sensible economy.

Buades is a researcher and professor specializing in tourism, globalization, and climate change research. He has written popular science essays such as Do not disturb Barceló. Journey to the Heart of the Tourist Empire (Icaria, 2009) and Exporting Paradises. The Tourist Colonization of the Planet (La Lucerna, 2006), among others; he was a deputy in the Parliament of the Balearic Islands (1999-2003) for Els Verds d’Eivissa, where he promoted the Ecotax.

Activity linked to the exhibition “Vacations with Franco. My Summers in Francoist Spain.”