The evolution of hostels in the city of Lisbon

Abstract

Since the opening of the first hostel in Lisbon in 2005 there has been a steady increase in the number of new units in the capital. The legal framework of the hostel and local accommodation approved in 2015, the prizes won by Portuguese hostels internationally year after year and the recognition of the quality of its touristic product has made this business model today a true alternative to traditional hotel accommodation.

The objective of this research is to show the evolution of the hostels in Lisbon over the years, through geo-referencing using the ArcGIS software. The information was collected based on their respective addresses and through the main reservation websites used by hostels, as well as mandatory registration of local lodging activity.

The conclusions show a concentration of hostels in the downtown of the city (Baixa) meeting the preferences of tourists for this type of accommodation in the historic center. However, it is possible to see an increase in the range of hostels in the city with new units appearing in more peripheral regions.

The investigation show also that a quarter of hostels left the market with a similar pattern of the existing hostels.