Living in a Tourist Destination: Regulating Planning, Housing and the Sharing Economy
Sunday, June 23 – Friday, June 28 • Lisbon, Portugal
Beautiful beaches boasting more sunlight than anywhere in Europe, a rich history, and amazing wine and gastronomy make Portugal an attractive tourist destination.
After the 2008 global financial crisis, Portugal focused on promoting tourism to boost the economy and spark urban regeneration. At the same time, a new rental law in 2012 removed rent freezes to encourage property owners to renovate dilapidated buildings and revitalize the city. Lisbon now faces an influx of tourists reaching 4.5 million annual visitors and new challenges regarding gentrification, forced evictions, lack of affordable housing in the city center, a deteriorating social fabric, and stress on the city’s infrastructure and public services.
How can cities ease the negative effects of tourism? How has the sharing economy affected housing supply and cost of living? What laws and policies can be used to balance community needs in a tourist destination?
Join us in Lisbon to discuss these important issues facing cities all over the world. Themes explored over the week include:
- Impact of the sharing economy on cities
- Regulation of the sharing economy and tourism
- Land use law and urban planning
- Housing law, policies and rights
- Environmental law, historic preservation law
This program is being offered in conjunction with the University of Lisbon Institute of Legal-Political Sciences (Instituto de Cièncias Juridico-Politicas) and Center for Research in Public Law (Centro de Investigacao de Direito Publico).
Early application in the program is encouraged as space is limited. Applying to the program does not guarantee a space in the program. Applicants will be selected through a competitive process and all applicants must email a CV or resume and a biography to Karen Johnston.
To learn more about the program, contact Karen Johnston (J.D. ’08) at kjohnston3@gsu.edu.
Apply Now
Download the Brochure
Sunday, June 23: Evening Welcome Reception
Monday, June 24: Lisbon: Spatial and Urban Planning Policies and Regulations
- Site Visit: Walking tour of Lisbon, Baixa/Avenidas Novas
- Lunch included
Tuesday, June 25: Housing Policies and Rights
- Site Visit: Social Housing in Lisbon Metropolitan Area
- Lunch included
Wednesday, June 26: Housing and Urban Rehabilitation in Lisbon
- Free afternoon for sightseeing or personal research
Thursday, June 27: Impact of Tourism and the Sharing Economy in Lisbon
- Site Visit: Guided tour of historical neighborhoods Alfama/Castelo/Mouraria, popular tourist areas
- Lunch included
Friday, June 28: Tourism and Environmental Sustainability in Metropolitan Lisbon
- Site Visit: Natural park, Monastery of Arrabida Bacalhoa; Bacalhoa and Jose Maria da Fonseca
- Lunch and dinner included
A block of hotel rooms will be reserved Sunday through Friday nights. Participants are responsible for booking their hotel rooms and will be provided with the instructions when accepted into the program.
All participants are required to submit their CV or resume, and a short biography before acceptance into the program. Space in the program is limited and acceptance into the program will be competitive.
One month before Study Space begins, participants will receive reading materials and are expected to have studied the materials prior to arrival in Lisbon.
Attendees are expected to participate fully, including daily lectures, site visits, group discussions and dinners.
Participants must submit one original article that relates to the Study Space theme, Living in a Tourist Destination: Regulating Planning, Housing and the Sharing Economy, for publication in the open access, online journal, Journal of Comparative Urban Law & Policy, a publication of Georgia State Law's Center for the Comparative Study of Metropolitan Growth. The Journal is read worldwide in 133 countries.
