Established in 1994, the Territorial Analysis and Tourism Studies Research Group (GRATET) is part of the Department of Geography at Rovira i Virgili University. Its scientific activity focuses on key topics within Geography and Social Sciences, centering primarily on tourism activity, mobility, and functionally complex spaces.
GRATET research focuses on the relationship between global dynamics of change and local responses, their effects on spatial restructuring, and the impact of public policies, planning, and governance on territorial reorganization, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques. The application of digital technologies and specific analytical tools, such as GIS, is fundamental to this work.
The main lines of research pursued by its members/researchers are:
- Local responses to the climate emergency, socio-demographic transition, and global change. Evolution, governance, adaptability, and resilience of tourist destinations.
- Planning and impacts of tourism and visitor attractions on place-making, identity, and prosperity. The extent of sustainable, circular, and regenerative practices.
- Urban policies, tourism, and city transformation. Challenges related to social inequality, housing, and social development.
- Management of visitor and resident mobility at the local level. Types, modes, conflicts, behaviours, and challenges for territorial competitiveness.
- Spatial justice, cultural ecosystem services, and socio-environmental equity. Landscape, infrastructures and socio-environmental equity impact on human health and social reproduction
GRATET was officially recognized by the URV in 1999. In 2005, it was selected as an Emerging Research Group by AGAUR, and since 2009, it has been recognized as a Consolidated Research Group (2009SGR744, 2014SGR1270, 2017SGR22, 2021SGR 00657, 2025SGR01000).