In recent years, cities such as Venice, Dubrovnik, Paris and Barcelona have experienced
an exponential increase in visitor numbers leading to episodes of tourismphobia by anti-tourism
movements, or even the decline of the destination. Among other solutions, some destinations see
film-induced tourism as a possible way of diversifying tourism supply and demand. Through the
analysis of the locations of six thematic film routes in Barcelona compared to the same locations on
the largest online travel review platform, TripAdvisor, it is concluded that, far from spreading out
tourist flows, fiction-induced tourism in Barcelona has concentrated tourism at the main attractions
of the city. Only a few exceptions of films with minor audiences lead tourists off the beaten track.
Overall, this paper provides a set of recommendations, strategies and challenges for destination
managers to help alleviate overtourism and to offer more sustainable tourism away from spots that
attract mass tourism.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (grants ID ECO2017-88984-R, TIN2015-71799-C2-2-P, and HAR2016-77734-P), and the support of the Institute of Social Development and Territory INDEST of University of Lleida (call 2018CRINDESTABC). First author also acknowledges the support of the Spanish Education Ministry for the abroad mobility stay “José Castillejo” (Ref. Number CAS19/00362)
