1. How do you define the term "new urban tourism" and what trends or changes do you see in this area compared to traditional forms of tourism?
Whilst there is no specific definition for New Urban Tourism, I guess the easiest way of defining it, is by its focus on everyday life and ‘living culture’ as the main things of interest, rather than mainstream tourism attractions. This form of tourism is growing, as increasing numbers of people want to get a presumably more ‘unique’ and ‘authentic’ experience. Given that the idea is to blend in with the locals, New Urban Tourism often is performed by independent tourists who often stay in small-scale (short-term rental) accommodation.
2. What factors or developments do you think have contributed to the increased focus of tourism on urban areas? Are there specific characteristics or experiences that are driving this trend?
The increase of New Urban Tourism and the wider interest of urban tourism has been fuelled both by an increase of interest in urban spaces in the last 30 years, but also because the accessibility of cities (e.g. rise of low-cost airlines, short-term rental services) and the diversity of experiences within cities has increased (e.g. because of previously undiscovered more suburban and remote parts of the city now have become interesting to tourists). In addition, residents of cities have also started to use their own city more for leisure purposes, which has also contributed to an increase in the number of people using cities as places for relaxation.
3. In what way do sustainability and responsibility play a role in the context of new urban tourism? What measures or approaches do you think are important to achieve a balance between tourism activities and the needs of urban communities?
New Urban Tourism really is a tricky form of tourism from a sustainability perspective. On one hand, there is an explicit desire of tourists who identify as New Urban Tourists to fit in and not cause disturbance. This can lead to tourists and residents co-creating city spaces together in a way that leads to improve the quality of places within cities. On the other hand, New Urban Tourism commonly takes place in areas where there is relatively little tourism development. As such, it may be seen as one of the first steps towards touristification. As soon as the number of tourists grows, it can lead to disturbance and perceptions of overtourism, particularly if local facilities (e.g. shops, cafes) change to suit tourists more than residents, or if an abundance of short-term rentals impacts on the local housing market. So, it is important to strike a balance. Whilst we are still looking at ways to achieve this, simply engaging with residents with regards to tourism, to ensure it is used to support local development. Also, it is important to appreciate that not every neighbourhood may want tourism or would like to see a degrowth of tourism. If these sentiments are expressed, this needs to be taken seriously, to prevent residents feeling disempowered and excluded.
Prof. Koens ist Professor für New Urban Tourism an der Inholland University of Applied Sciences in Rotterdam. Zudem ist er im Bereich nachhaltiger Tourismus tätig. Seine Arbeit konzentriert sich auf nachhaltigen Städtetourismus mit Schwerpunkt auf New Urban Tourism, Overtourism, City Hospitality und Tourismus der Ungleichheiten (Slumtourismus). Am 06. Dezember 2023 war Prof. Koens im Rahmen des digitalen internationalen Gastprofessorenprogramms, welches vom Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst gefördert wird, zu Gast.
Am 20. Dezember wird er für einen weiteren Vortrag zum Thema „Transformation and Reframing“ digital an der STS zu Gast sein.
Autorin: Natalie Olbrich