Growth machine in traditional tourist destinations: Costa del Sol metropolitan area (Málaga)

Abstract

The systemic crisis has its roots in the overall urban production crisis that has left a
significant imprint on certain territories. In traditional tourist destinations, «urbanisation of capital»
processes, defined as growth machines, have been evolving with ever greater frequency for some
years. This concept of analysing urban development is being studied. Its operation is considered
an agreement on urban development, before the crisis and now a days, which aims to reactivate
the economy by promoting a new phase of growth. It applies to the case study of the Costa del Sol
Metropolitan Area (ZoMeCS), in the province of Málaga, one of the most dynamic international
tourist destinations and territories in southern Europe. First, three dimensions in the processes in
the realisation of an urban growth machine are distinguished: (1) the global dimension of ideas and
discourses, (2) the dimension of the programmes, plans and laws, (3) and the most local scale of
specific projects and actions. In addition, four types of key agents in these processes may be found:
politicians, investors and employers, technicians and professionals, and the media. Second, in the
ZoMeCS the focus is on four very inter-related mega-projects: The Los Merinos (Ronda) macro
urban development, the extension of Marbella Harbour, the Marbella-Ronda toll road and the
reclassification of the La Resinera estate in Estepona. Connections and mechanisms established
between mega-projects and the intangible network of main agents, which in many cases are
common, have been identified. The need to establish the intangible but very real network, produced
by the contemporary territory, through the use of more accountable tools aimed at providing better
understanding and more democratic governance has been shown.