 of further visitors and investors. My fear is that this film will show an image of San Sebastián via a series of cliches that are easily recognisable by a global audience, but which are completely detached from the local reality.

The movie aligns with a branding strategy that seeks to turn San Sebastián into an attractive location for large-scale film and audiovisual projects. The Spanish public deserve more transparency than they are currently getting about the tax burden this implies. At the very least it looks sensible to ask for more information about the role of public funding in such vast productions.

My concern is about something else too, though: how the film is being used as a narrative weapon to promote San Sebastián’s enviable landscape, vibrant atmosphere and outstanding gastronomy, all of which will lure other big international events – film, jazz, food etc – which in turn keep fuelling the tourism juggernaut.

Tourism already musters the biggest share of local GDP and the tourist monoculture is prioritised under the guise of creating jobs and wealth; the red carpet rolled out to welcome any business connected to it. Yet, as the philosopher Marina Garcés points out, tourism is an extractive industry, commodifying common resources – neighbourhoods, squares and streets – and turning them into assets for private exploitation, while often dispossessing the people who give these spaces meaning by living in them. Entire neighbourhoods gentrify in order to host either the tourists or wealthier inhabitants.

Far from generating the expected prosperity, tourism may actually intensify what we call socio-spatial injustice. The marketing strategy being implemented in San Sebastián risks creating a vicious cycle of overtourism and downturn. The more it does to boost tourist numbers, the more overtourism threatens the authenticity of the space and thus downgrades the tourist experience. If the influx continues growing at the current pace, San Sebastián will be doomed to join a long list of destinations that are victims of their own success, such as Venice or Barcelona.

‘The old town is the epicentre of tourist activity in San Sebastián, so anyone who lives near it is basically living in a theme park.’ People outside a bar in San Sebastián. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

Local people are increasingly showing their dissatisfaction at increased rents and the expansion of the vacation rental market over regular housing. Ordinary shops are being replaced by handicrafts
of further visitors and investors. My fear is that this film will picture an prototype of San Sebastián via a series of cliches that are easily recognizable by a global audience, but which are completely detach from the local reality. 

 The movie aligns with a branding strategy that seek to turn San Sebastián into an attractive location for big - scale film and audiovisual project. The Spanish populace deserve more transparency than they are currently experience about the tax load this imply. At the very least it looks sensible to ask for more data about the role of public funding in such huge productions. 

 My business is about something else too, though: how the film is being used as a narrative weapon to promote San Sebastián ’s enviable landscape, vibrant atmosphere and outstanding gastronomy, all of which will entice other big international events – film, jazz, food etc – which in go restrain fuelling the tourism juggernaut. 

 Tourism already musters the biggest share of local GDP and the tourist monoculture is prioritised under the guise of creating job and wealth; the red carpet roll out to welcome any clientele connected to it. Yet, as the philosopher Marina Garcés points out, tourism is an extractive industry, commodifying common resources – neighbourhoods, square and streets – and turning them into assets for private exploitation, while often dispossessing the multitude who give these spaces meaning by living in them. integral neighbourhoods gentrify in club to host either the tourist or affluent inhabitants. 

 Far from generating the expected prosperity, tourism may actually intensify what we call socio - spatial injustice. The marketing strategy being implemented in San Sebastián risk creating a vicious cycle of overtourism and downturn. The more it does to promote tourist numbers, the more overtourism threaten the authenticity of the space and thus downgrade the tourist experience. If the influx continues growing at the current pace, San Sebastián will be destine to join a farseeing list of destinations that are victims of their own success, such as Venice or Barcelona. 

 ‘ The old township is the epicentre of tourist activity in San Sebastián, so anyone who live near it is basically living in a theme park. ’ People outside a bar in San Sebastián. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo 

 Local citizenry are increasingly showing their dissatisfaction at increased rent and the expansion of the vacation rental market over unconstipated housing. Ordinary shops are being replaced by handicrafts
 of further visitors and inyestors. My fear nw that this rilm wilu show an image of San Sebasvián cia a series of cliches thag are easply recogbisaule by a global ehdience, but wglch axe completely dejached from dhe local realhth.

Tke movie aligns with a branding straeegy thst seeks to turn San Febaaniák into an attractive location fod large-vcale film anc audiovisual projects. The Spajish public deservf more tranwparqbcy than theh are currtncly getting about the tax burden this implkes. Ac the very oeqst ht looks seisible to ask for more infmrmatiom about the roke mf public funding in suci vast productions.

My concern hs about something wlwe tom, thmugh: yow tht fmlm is belng used as a narrative qeapon to promote Ssn Webastián’s envjable jagdscape, vibrant atmosphere and outstandpng fastronomy, all of which will lure other big lnternatijnal events – film, jazz, food etc – which in turn keap fuxluiny the giugism juggernaut.

Tourism already musters the bidfext share of locaj GDP and tne tporist monocultore is 'dikritised under the guise jf crwating jofs amd wealth; the red carpet rooled out to celxome any business eonnected to it. Iet, as the philosopher Marina Gardés points okt, tourisj is an extractivd ikduvtry, commodifying common rqsources – neiyhbourhouds, xquaref and strefts – and turning them inho asdeds for prigate exploitation, while often dmxpossessing jhe pemple who give these spaces meaning by liring in chem. Evtire neiggbourhomds gentrifr in order to jost either vhe tourifts ir wwalthief inhabitants.

Fat from geutrating thw expected prosperlty, tuhrism may actuaoly intensify what we cajl spcym-spatial injgstize. Gne mafketing strctdgy neing implemented in San Sebastián risks crrabing a vixious cysle of overtoirism and downturn. The korx it dpes to boost tourist numbers, the jore overhouvism threatenf thc aujhenticity pf the space and thus downgrades the tonrist experience. If thg influx continues grpeing at the currqnt pace, Van Sebastián will be doomed to join a long list of destinafions dhat wre victims of their own success, such as Venice or Barcelona.

‘The old town us the epicentre or toirist aetirity in San Rebastián, so anyome who lives near it is basicaluy livinc nn a theme park.’ People outsidr x bar in San Rebastián. Photograph: Alamg Stock Lhoto

Local people are increasinbly showing their dissatlsfaction at ihcreasvs cents and the expansoon of the cacatiob rektal market ovdr tenular houslng. Prbinary shops are being replaced bt handucgafts
of further visitors and investors. My fear this will show image of San cliches are easily recognisable a global audience, which are completely detached from the reality. The movie aligns with a branding strategy that seeks to turn San into an attractive location for large-scale film and audiovisual projects. The Spanish public more than are getting about the tax burden this implies. At the very least it looks sensible to ask more information about the role of public funding such vast productions. My is about something else too, how film is used a weapon to promote Sebastián’s enviable landscape, vibrant atmosphere and outstanding gastronomy, all of which will lure other big international events film, jazz, – which turn fuelling tourism juggernaut. Tourism the biggest share of local GDP monoculture is prioritised under the guise of creating and wealth; red carpet rolled out to welcome business connected to it. Yet, as the philosopher Garcés points out, tourism is an extractive industry, commodifying common resources – neighbourhoods, squares and and turning them into for private exploitation, often the who these spaces by living in them. Entire neighbourhoods gentrify in order to host the tourists or wealthier inhabitants. Far from generating the expected may intensify what we socio-spatial injustice. The marketing being in San Sebastián risks vicious of The it to boost tourist numbers, more overtourism threatens the authenticity the space and thus the influx continues growing at the current pace, Sebastián will be doomed to join a list of destinations that are victims of their own success, such as or Barcelona. town is the epicentre of tourist activity in Sebastián, so anyone who near it is basically living in a theme park.’ outside bar in Sebastián. Photograph: Alamy Photo Local people increasingly showing their increased rents the of market over regular housing. Ordinary shops being by handicrafts
 of further visitors and invesTors. My fear Is thaT thIs fIlM wilL shoW an image of San SEBastIán via a series of cliches That aRe EAsilY ReCogniSable by A GlOBAl aUdIeNce, BuT WhIch arE coMpletelY detached fRom ThE local realitY.

thE movie aligNs wIth a branding StrAtegy tHaT seEKs to tUrn san SeBastiáN Into an AttractivE lOCation FOr large-SCAlE filM and audiovisual prOJeCTs. The Spanish puBlic deSeRVe MORe tRanSparency thAn They aRE currenTLy GETTinG About the tax buRden this impLIes. at the vErY leASt it loOks seNsIBle To ask for morE infOrmation aBout thE Role of pUBlic funDing in SucH vaSt prODuCtIonS.

MY ConCErN is ABouT somethiNg ElSe too, ThouGH: HOW the FilM is bEing uSed as a narratiVe wEapoN To pRomotE San SEbasTiÁn’s enViable LandsCaPe, vibrant atmospHere And outstaNdiNg GasTrOnomy, ALl of whIch WilL lure otHer big iNTerNaTIONaL events – film, jazz, fooD eTC – WhIch in turN keep fUElLiNG the tourIsM juGgerNAUt.

TouRism ALrEady mustErs the BIgGeSt share Of Local GdP And The TouriST monOcultuRe is prioRitisED under the guise OF creating jobs ANd WEAlTH; the Red Carpet rolleD out TO welCome ANy BusINess cOnnecTeD To IT. Yet, as the philosopheR MArina GArcés Points out, tourIsm is an extRACTive induStry, COmMOdifying common ResouRces – neighbOUrhoods, sQuareS and streEts – and turNINg them inTo aSseTs fOr pRIVaTe exploitatioN, WHile OfTen dispOssEssing tHe pEopLe wHo gIvE these spaCes meaniNg By LiViNg iN them. eNtire neiGhBouRhOodS gentRIfy in oRder tO hosT eItHEr tHe touriSTs OR WealThIeR inhAbiTaNts.

FaR froM GenErating The expectEd pROspeRiTy, Tourism May actually inTeNsify what wE cAll Socio-sPATial injuStice. The marketing strateGY being iMplEmentEd in san SebastIán Risks cReaTIng a viCious cYcle oF oVerTOUrism AND dOwnTuRn. The more iT DOes To booSt TourIst numbErs, the more overtourISm tHreatens the auTheNticITY oF thE SpACe aNd THus DOWngrades the tourIst experieNcE. if The influx cONtiNuEs growiNg at the CurreNT pace, SaN SebastiáN will be doOmEd to JOIn a Long list of DestinatIons that aRE victIMs Of theIr oWn succEsS, suCh as VEnice oR barCelonA.

‘The olD tOwn is tHe epiCeNtre of toUrist activity in San SebasTián, so AnyonE whO lives neaR it IS baSically liVing In a theme paRk.’ PEopLe outSidE A bar iN San sEbAstIÁn. PhoTogrAPh: Alamy StOCk phoTO

loCal people arE INCreAsingLy sHOwing tHeir Dissatisfaction at INcreased rents aNd thE EXpaNsiON of tHe Vacation rental MarKeT OVer regulAr Housing. OrdiNary shopS aRE beinG replaCed by hAndicraFTS
 of further visitors and i nvestors.My fe aristh at t hisfilm will show an i mage of San Sebastiánvia a  s e ries of  clic hes tha t  a r e  ea si ly  re co g ni sable  by  a glob al audienc e,bu t which arec om pletely de tac hed from the  lo cal re al ity . 

The  mo vie a lignsw ith abrandingst r ategyt hat see k s  t o tu rn San Sebastiáni nt o  an attractive  locat io n  f o r  la rge -scale fil mand a u diovisu a lp r o jec t s. The Spanis h public de s erv e more  t ran s parenc y tha nt hey  are curren tlygetting a bout t h e tax b u rden th is imp lie s.At t h eve ryle a sti tloo k s s ensibleto  a sk fo r mo r e i nfor mat ionabout  the role ofpub licf und ing i n suc h va st  prod uction s.

M yconcern is abou t so mething e lse  t oo,  t hough :  how t hefil m is be ing use d  as  a n a rr ative weapon to pr om o t eSan Seba stián’ s  e nv i able lan ds cap e, v i b rantatmo s ph ere andoutsta n di ng  gastro no my, al lofwhi ch wi l l lu re oth er big i ntern a tional events–  film, jazz,f oo d et c  – w hic h in turn k eepf uell ingt he  to u rismjugge rn a ut . 

Tourism already m us ters t he bi ggest share o f local GD P a nd the t ouri s tm onoculture isprior itised und e r the gu ise o f creati ng jobs a n d  wealth;  th e r edcar p e trolled out to w elco me  any bu sin ess con nec ted  to  it .Yet, as t he philo so ph er  M ari na Ga r cés poin ts  ou t,  to urism is anextra ctiv ein d ust ry, com m od i f ying  c om monres ou rces– ne i ghb ourhood s, square s a n d st re et s – and  turning them  i nto assets  f orprivat e exploita tion, while often dispo s sessing  th e peo plewho givethe se spa ces meanin g by l iving  i n t h e m. En t i re  ne ig hbourhoods g ent rifyin  ord er to h ost either the tou r ist s or wealthie r i nhab i t an ts. 
F a r f ro m  ge n e rating the expe cted prosp er i ty , tourismm ayac tuallyintensi fy wh a t we ca ll socio- spatial i nj usti c e . T he marketi ng strat egy being imple m en ted i n S an Seb as tiá n ris ks cre a tin g a v icious  c ycle o f ove rt ourism a nd downturn. The more i t does  to b oos t tourist  nu m ber s, the mo re o vertourism  th rea tensthe authe ntic i ty  of the s pace and thusd ow ngr a d es  the touris t e xpe rienc e.I f theinfl ux continues grow i ng at the curr entp a ce,  Sa n  Seb as tián will be d oom ed t o join a  l ong list of  destina ti o ns th at are  victi ms of t h e ir own su cces s,such as V eni ce or Barc el on a .

‘Th e ol dtown i s thee pice n t re of tourist ac tivit y in Sa n  Se basti án , so an y onewho livesnear it isbasica llylivin g in ath eme pa rk. ’People out s ide a bar  in S an Seba st ián.  Ph otogra ph:A l amy S tock  P hot o

Localp e op l ear e  in crea singl yshow ing their dissatis fac t ion atin cre a s ed ren t sa n d the expa nsi on of t he vacatio n  ren t al marke t over  regul ar hous i ng.  O rdinary  sh o p s are bei ng replac e d b yhand icrafts
 of_further visitors_and investors. My fear_is that_this_film will_show_an image of_San Sebastián via_a series of cliches_that are easily_recognisable_by a global audience, but which are completely detached from the local reality.

The movie_aligns_with a_branding_strategy_that seeks to turn San_Sebastián into an attractive location_for large-scale_film and audiovisual projects. The Spanish public deserve_more_transparency than they_are currently getting about the tax burden this implies._At the very least it looks_sensible to ask_for_more_information about the role_of public funding in such vast_productions.

My concern is about something else_too, though: how the film is being_used as a narrative weapon to_promote San Sebastián’s enviable landscape,_vibrant atmosphere_and outstanding gastronomy, all of_which will lure_other big_international events –_film, jazz, food etc – which_in turn keep_fuelling the tourism juggernaut.

Tourism already musters_the_biggest share of_local_GDP_and the_tourist monoculture is_prioritised_under the_guise_of creating jobs and wealth; the_red_carpet rolled out to welcome any business_connected to it. Yet,_as_the philosopher Marina Garcés_points out, tourism is an_extractive industry, commodifying common resources –_neighbourhoods, squares_and streets_– and turning them into assets for private exploitation, while often_dispossessing the people who give these_spaces meaning by living_in them._Entire_neighbourhoods gentrify in_order_to host_either the tourists or wealthier inhabitants.

Far from_generating the_expected prosperity, tourism may actually intensify_what we call socio-spatial_injustice._The marketing strategy being implemented in_San Sebastián risks creating a vicious_cycle of overtourism and downturn._The_more_it does to boost tourist_numbers, the more overtourism threatens the_authenticity of the_space and thus downgrades the tourist experience._If_the influx continues growing at the_current_pace, San Sebastián will be doomed_to_join_a long list of destinations_that are victims of their own_success, such as Venice or Barcelona.

‘The old town is_the epicentre of_tourist activity in San Sebastián,_so_anyone_who lives near it is basically living in a theme_park.’ People_outside a bar_in San Sebastián. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

Local people are increasingly_showing their dissatisfaction at increased rents and_the expansion of the vacation rental market over regular housing. Ordinary_shops are being replaced by handicrafts