Tourism, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development: the Tourism Dialogue at the Barcelona Forum 2004

Abstract

The Dialogue on Tourism, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development at the Barcelona Forum was a three-day international conference with a distinguished parade of star speakers and panellists. The Barcelona Forum is a large-scale urban redevelopment project which is converting a low-value sewage treatment site into a 30 ha high-value coastal resort. The total budget is E3 billion, with a 40/60 split between public and private funding. Major works such as wavebreak islands and deepwater harbours have been constructed, and from May–September 2004, the site hosts a 20-week international expo, the Universal Forum of the Cultures (2004), with an additional operating budget of E327 million. This is presumably intended as a marketing device. Site works include a signature triangular trade-show building with a 3200-seat underground auditorium, which could easily become an upmarket retail precinct and car park; and a convention centre and hotel. These are hosting 41 back-to-back conferences known as Dialogues. The rest of the Forum site contains performances and exhibitions, notably a futuristic display of hydrogen-powered and hybrid petrol/electric car designs by Toyota.