From the Cool to the Warm Water Beach: The Popularization of Seaside Tourism in Twentieth-Century Spain

Abstract

This article aims to do an analysis of how throughout the 20th century a substantial change occurred in European tourism. In particular, a paradigm shift occurred. Hygienism gave way to new fads, like tanning, and a new tourist practices, which began to give value to the warm beaches of the South of Europe. In addition, to the extent that the economic situation improved after the start of the Marshall Plan and the purchasing power of most of the citizens of Western Europe began to sue tourism services, Spain became one of the main destinations for Sun and beach. Mid-20th century had occurred already a true Southernization of tourism and its democratization, or popularization. A phenomenon that began to affect the own Spanish people since the 1960s.