The impacts of sharing platforms for tourism on spaces and communities: the possible role of placebased regeneration processes

Within the national and international scenario, the phenomenon of sharing economy in tourism is strictly linked to the "shadow hospitality" models, spread on platforms such as: Airbnb, Homelidays, Wimdu (Travel like e local), Vrbo (Vacation rentals by owner); Kid&Coe, HouseTrip, OnlyApartements. This new trend in tourism needs to be investigated in terms of impacts on local communities, public spaces and urban cultures. The so called "Airbnb effect" is influencing the housing sector, the typology of commercial facilities, and the local productive traditions. Several initiatives - both at municipal and communities level - started recently in European cities affected by these phenomena and different policies and measures were adopted for: protecting the housing accessibility, regulating the real estate speculation and stopping the expulsion of residents. In line with this perspective, the paper will discuss the following research questions: How to investigate the impacts of the shadow hospitality on cultural, social and economic environment of the urban areas affected by these phenomena? How a place-based regeneration process could contribute to rebalance economic opportunities and risks produced by sharing platforms in tourism, by dealing with the loss of authenticity of public spaces and the gentrification trends?