As a sign of the unstoppable increase in tourist activities in San Sebastian, in recent years the news about the construction and/or opening of hotels in our city has intensified. In Donostia-San Sebastián, over the past four years more than thirty-five hotels have been approved and/or expanded, with an excessive rate of supply of beds in the city. In addition, the increase in the supply of beds that the city is suffering is even greater, as in addition to hotel activities, account must be taken of the uncontrolled growth of tourist apartments. With regard to hotel expansion, it is evident that it is especially concentrated in the most tourist areas of the city (Gran Vía, Paseo de France, Miraconcha, Zabaleta, Matía, San Bartolomé, for example). However, this growth has led to hotel activity spreading throughout the municipality (as evidenced by the initiative of Ulia or Aiete).

There have also been changes in property characteristics and business management. Other types of agents and structures have now been added to the city's usual models, such as family hotels or those promoted by local capital owners. These include the bishopric of San Sebastian, the major international chains or the investment funds, among others. It is clear that several agents perceive San Sebastian as a unique business space to generate added value. In this sense, all types of buildings have been sold in order to exploit and capitalize on the possibilities opened by tourism: public, historical and religious buildings... Along with this, there has been a diversification of the offer, differentiating the typology of the establishments. The “heterofriendly” hotel in Amara, an emblem of pink capitalism, accommodations for surfers and travellers with backpack, hotels disguised as student residence and with a luxury offer, among others.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the emergency situation caused by it necessitated the temporary closure of the doors of the hotels in San Sebastian. With the onset of de-escalation, the recovery of economic activities has not had the expected effect. In the meantime, although the decline in tourism shows that there is a worrying hotel overload in the city, the opening works of new hotels continue.

Instead of reviewing the commitment to tourism monoculture in recent decades, the objective of both the public administration and private actors in the sector is to reverse the situation as quickly as possible. They have the white in front of them. Continue to boost the growth of tourism that San Sebastian has experienced, continuing to increase the number of beds offered by the city. With the increase in supply, they maintain the hope that demand will increase as a bale strategy, devoting public resources to it and creating a dangerous tourist bubble in the city.

However, this new crisis has made it clear that the supply of beds in San Sebastian is already excessive and that the only sustainable solution will come from the loss of tourism. Stop granting permits for the construction of new hotels, redirect hotel construction to other uses and reduce the number of current hotels and beds in the long term as businesses are closing down. We now have the opportunity to limit the excessive growth of hotel activities and tighten the regulations on hotel activities. It is necessary to reflect on the problems of rest and coexistence that is generating an irresponsible increase of the hotels and guarantee the daily needs of the neighbors, prioritizing the neighborhood life and making the hotel activity compatible with it.

Aware that the most devastating consequences of the economic crisis are facing the services and transport sector, it is clear that the viability of the current tourism model is at risk. As mentioned above, hotel workers have quickly felt the consequences of the fall in tourism. The current sectoral model does not have the capacity to meet the requirements of the regulatory agreement for the sector. Therefore, it is time to set limits to the touristic specialization that takes advantage of the labor relations that are based on precariousness. It now opens up the possibility of strengthening the sectors linked to local needs that break the dependence on tourism and are capable of generating quality jobs. In this context, it will be essential to invest in training for the relocation of workers in alternative areas. If this route of dismantling tourism is not adopted, the list of redundancies will only be increased.

We now have the opportunity to review the socio-economic model of Donostia, to create a solid and diversified base that exceeds the monoculture of tourism and responds to local needs. It is time to break with the economic model that has been put in place for investors and private actors and to build a model for Donostia’s neighbours. We have two itineraries for the future of our city: to continue with the above or to start a new model built among all. The need to move the tourist decline to the front line and to opt for the second option is becoming more and more evident.

Eihar Egaña is a member of the Bizilagunak group

Donostiarras Platform for Tourist Growth