Territorial Communities and New Reticular Technologies: Comparing Experiences in the Tourism Sector

The use of digital platforms is revolutionizing the space-time dimension of communities. In the tourism sector, this transformation responds to market changes, aiming to enrich travelers’ experiences with personalized proposals and addressing the needs of hospitality, as highlighted by actors such as Airbnb and Online Travel Agencies (OTA), targeting the formalized community tourism market (Bozzato, 2021). However, the indiscriminate use of digital tools has led to economic exploitation of some tourist destinations, negatively affecting the empowerment of local communities. The following analysis explores the role of digital platforms, not solely responsible for the growing touristification of cities but contributing to gentrification processes. These platforms have reinterpreted the residential use of many buildings, with a greater emphasis on short-term rentals, also influencing the housing emergency. On the other hand, platforms are seen as an opportunity for communities to actively participate in hospitality, modifying relational and lifestyle contexts for those adopting this approach. The research methodology aims to compare experiences in the hospitality sector where the use of digital technologies has produced diversified effects. In smaller contexts, digital platforms support the discovery of the territory, promoting experiences of aggregation and shared tourist hospitality. In large tourist cities, they have contributed to a disintegration of the territorial fabric, evidenced by the gradual emptying of historic centers by residents and the increased economic value of real estate units designated for rentals. This phenomenon has led to a redefinition of territorial balances, amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic and its devastating influences tourism.