Reclaiming Identity in the Intermediate City Tourist Destinations: Cultural, Spatial, and Governance-Based Transformations

Abstract

Intermediary cities in mature tourism regions face increasing pressure from tourism-led commodification of space, which can amplify socio-spatial imbalance and weaken place identity. This extended abstract develops an analytical framework, informed by a case-oriented synthesis focused on the Canary Islands (Spain), to examine how such cities can reposition tourism within inclusive and resilient urban agendas. The framework integrates three levers—public-space regeneration, co-governance/co-production, and endogenous value-retention including circular approaches—and relates them to SDG 11.