Airbnb in Menorca: a new form of touristic gentrification? Distribution of touristic housing dwelling, agents and impacts on the residential rent

This article studies if the irruption of Airbnb in Minorca is leading towards a new type of tourism gentrification. The objective is to analyze from a geographical and social perspective the phenomenon of tourism in Minorca. The distribution of touristic housing dwellings offered in Airbnb is mapped; and an analysis of the type of hosts is carried out. The impact of the touristic rentals on the residential rental market is also studied. The main finding is that, in the Minorca urban settlements, Airbnb irruption has created the mechanisms to trigger gentrification in the short-run.