Foreign population and residential tourism on the coast of Alicante (1960-2011): territorial repercussions

Abstract

The coast of the province of Alicante has undergone significant territorial changes since the 1960Í€™s as a result of the development of tourism activities, where territorial changes, like the shaping of coastal settlement, are met with social ones. The arrival of retired or pre-retired foreign population from Northern and Central Europe makes the province of Alicante (Spain) one of the Mediterranean regions where residential tourism has acquired greatest relevance at a national level. The aim of this research is, on the one hand, to analyze the factors that explain the settlement of large groups of immigrants in this area, and, on the other hand, to highlight social and territorial impacts associated with their arrival. A survey conducted in the residential areas of coastal municipalities allowed moving forward in the knowledge of these factors, beyond plain statistical data.