Title: Residents, Participation and the Social Legitimacy of Tourism in Sustainable Destination Planning
Chair:
Associate Prof. Efthymia Sarantakou
Department of Tourism Management
University of West Attica (UniWA)
Associate Prof. Anna Zarkada
Department of Communication and Marketing
Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
Emeritus Prof. Paris Tsartas
Department of Economics and Sustainable Development
Harokopio University of Athens
Abstract/Description:
Tourism-led urban development in Mediterranean coastal cities has increasingly fostered hybrid growth models that interconnect the tourism industry with high-end real estate investments. In Limassol, this transformation has significantly reshaped the urban waterfront, generating both economic growth and social tensions. Within this context, social legitimacy emerges as a critical factor in understanding how such transformations are justified, contested, and experienced by local communities. Participatory governance, therefore, should not be treated merely as a formal requirement, but as a fundamental mechanism for ensuring inclusive and socially sustainable urban development. This study explores the evolution of political and public discourse surrounding Limassol’s waterfront development from 2008 to 2024, focusing on how narratives of “urban regeneration” have gradually shifted toward critical debates on the right to the city and coastal privatization.
Methodology: First, a systemic approach is applied through Critical Systems Mapping to define the boundaries of the urban development model and identify key stakeholders, including public authorities, private investors, and local communities. This process highlights power asymmetries and conflicting interests embedded in decision-making structures. Second, a longitudinal multi-source discourse analysis is conducted, examining political speeches, policy documents, media coverage, and academic literature. The analysis traces rhetorical patterns and conceptual shifts, particularly in the post-2013 economic crisis period, when investment-driven development intensified. Finally, the research incorporates qualitative insights from key informant interviews, allowing for a deeper understanding of causal mechanisms and critical junctures that influenced the trajectory of Limassol’s transformation.
Findings: The findings reveal a significant gap between formal participatory frameworks and actual civic engagement. The concept of “institutional silence” emerges as a central theme, reflecting the limited activation of official participatory processes and the marginalization of local voices. This absence of meaningful dialogue contributes to a broader sense of social alienation from urban space production. Overall, the study demonstrates that the legitimacy of large-scale urban tourism developments depends not only on economic performance but also on the extent to which governance processes are inclusive and responsive to local communities. The case of Limassol illustrates the risks of development models that prioritize investment over social consensus.
Keywords: tourism–real estate nexus; social legitimacy; urban transformation; Limassol; critical discourse analysis; participatory governance