High-Speed Railway and Tourism: Is There an Impact on Intermediate Cities? Evidence from Two Case Studies in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)

High-speed rail (HSR) can significantly boost tourism in intermediate cities, provided tourist amenities are strategically located near stations and supported by coordinated local strategies. A study of Cuenca and Toledo in Spain found that HSR improved accessibility, leading to increased visitation rates when attractions were easily reachable from stations. Unlike larger cities, medium-sized urban centers like these benefit more from proximity to tourism infrastructure than sheer population size. The research used a diachronic analysis of socio-economic variables and tourist data to assess HSR's impact, revealing that local stakeholder collaboration and amenities' accessibility are critical factors in leveraging tourism growth.

VÁZQUEZ VARELA, C., & MARTÍNEZ NAVARRO, J. M. (2020). HIGH-SPEED RAILWAY AND TOURISM: IS THERE AN IMPACT ON INTERMEDIATE CITIES? EVIDENCE FROM TWO CASE STUDIES IN CASTILLA-LA MANCHA (SPAIN). Journal of Urban and Regional Analysis, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.37043/jura.2016.8.2.3