Airbnb in tourist cities: comparing spatial patterns of hotels and peer-to-peer accommodation

TL;DR

This study compares the spatial distribution of Airbnb and hotels in Barcelona, revealing that Airbnb is more concentrated near main attractions and has increased tourism pressure in specific city areas.

Contribution

It introduces new geospatial analysis of Airbnb and hotel spatial patterns using novel data sources like geolocated photos and listings.

Findings

Airbnb and hotels show a close spatial relationship with a center-periphery pattern.

Airbnb is more concentrated near main tourist attractions.

Certain city areas have experienced increased tourism pressure due to Airbnb.

Abstract

In recent years, what has become known as collaborative consumption has undergone rapid expansion through peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms. In the field of tourism, a particularly notable example is that of Airbnb. This article analyses the spatial patterns of Airbnb in Barcelona and compares them with hotels and sightseeing spots. New sources of data, such as Airbnb listings and geolocated photographs are used. Analysis of bivariate spatial autocorrelation reveals a close spatial relationship between Airbnb and hotels, with a marked centre-periphery pattern, although Airbnb predominates around the main hotel axis and hotels predominate in some peripheral areas of the city. Another interesting finding is that Airbnb capitalises more on the advantages of proximity to the main tourist attractions of the city than does the hotel sector. Finally, it was possible to detect those parts of the city that have seen the greatest increase in pressure from tourism related to Airbnb's recent expansion.