Assessing the commercial landscape of Lisbon: patterns of change in the city centre

Le résumé fourni par la source

This study examines the evolution of retail in Lisbon’s city centre over an extended timeframe. By contextualising these developments, the research offers a more comprehensive understanding of the city centre’s commercial transformation, particularly in response to tourism. The findings reveal significant variations among major commercial streets in both their composition and appeal, challenging the notion of uniform adaptation across the city centre. Tourism emerges as a key driver of rising rental values and property prices, enhancing economic viability but concentrating its impact on specific thoroughfares, notably Rua Augusta. This concentration creates disparities, as neighbouring streets, lacking equivalent tourist footfall, suffer from high tenant turnover and vacant units. Streets with weaker commercial performance often remain open to traffic, limiting their attractiveness due to narrower pavements that preclude leisure-oriented features like terraces. The analysis also addresses competing perspectives: while some highlight the benefits of urban rehabilitation, others critique the loss of local identity and disconnection from residents. The study concludes that commercial transformation precedes the recent tourism boom but has been significantly amplified by it. While leisure-oriented retail environments appear inevitable, the proliferation of souvenir shops in high-rent areas demands further examination, given their misalignment with expected revenue potential.

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