Nineteenth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations

Abstract

Tourism activity has positive economic impacts, which mostly serve to tourism destination managers to counteract the negative impacts that tend to be clearly visualized in the social, cultural or environmental dimensions. The general aim of this study focuses on the economic impacts and specifically on the generation of direct and indirect employment that tourism develops in touristically attractive destinations. In that sense, we plan to research the typology of job positions generated (according to the organizational models of Mintzberg, 1979), as well as required skills, working conditions, salaries and, consequently, employee satisfaction in the tourist labour sector. Food markets are the illustrative case used, due to their current interest as tourist icons, and therefore, important sources of job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities. Specifically the Boqueria and Sant Antoni markets, both in the center of the city of Barcelona (Spain), are the chosen examples to be studied. The Boqueria market has 257 establishments: none are closed and all are privately owned. It is estimated that about 725-750 people are working in the market, taking into account that on some specific days, extra staff needs to be hired. That usually happens on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays, because establishments need to cover the whole demand’s service. The situation is quite similar in Sant Antoni Market. However, in a society that leisure values constantly increases and personal free time is highly appreciated, these tourism job opportunities do not appear as attractive positions.