Day 3 Friday 5th April 2013

Activity Two: The Urban Economy- Tourism & Markets

Group: Iggy, Brenda, Aoife, Mairead

Visited: Mercat de Fort Pienc, Mercat Sant Antoni and Mercat de La Boqueria

 

We were given the topic of ‘Markets’ to study today and to analyse and compare them by means of social survey. Firstly we decided on relevant questions to ask certain types or people. We formed a different set of questions for shop owners and workers to market customers.

 

We asked the ‘seller’s’ questions such as:

• How long are you working here?
• Are you living locally?
• Are your products locally produced?
• Who are your main customers? Old, young, local, tourists etc.
• How old is this market?
• Do local supermarkets affect sales? What is the difference between here and supermarket
• What are the opening hours?
• Is this a family run business?
• On average what would most customers spend?
• Do you speak Spanish or Catalonian?

 

We asked the customer’s questions such as:

• Where are you from?
• How long have you been coming to this market?
• Why do you come here? What for?
• Are you living locally?
• How much would you spend?
• Do you speak Spanish or Catalonian?

 

           

Mercat de Fort Pienc

On visiting ‘Mercat de Fort Pienc’ we immediately felt it was a very friendly environment and relaxed atmosphere. The centre itself was very modern and newly refurbished. Everyone seemed to be calm as they strolled through chatting while purchasing, there was nobody rushing about. We spoke to a man working at a fruit and veg shop who gave us lots of information. Jose told us his father owned this shop and he had worked for him for almost ten years, although the market building was only 3-4 years old. This shows that the government invested money in this market and it certainly worked as a positive, the market was busy and everyone seemed happy. He spoke about his customers telling us they were mainly locals and he knew a lot of them by name and had a good relationship with them.

        

Jose fruit & Veg stand in Mercat de Fort Pienc

Mercat Sant Antoni

    In ‘Mercat Sant Antoni’ there was less of a local feel to the market with a good number of tourists as well inside. It was much bigger and much more chaotic than Mercat de Fort Pienc. We spoke to a salesman who owned his own fish stand there who told us they will be waiting another 3-4 years to get their new market which was being built across the road. There is archaeological digs happening at the moment which is delaying it. We saw images of what the market will look like and it seems it will be a huge success. The stand owners long for a new and permanent home.

         

Fish stand in Mercat Sant Antoni

   Last we visited ‘Mercat de La Boqueria’ which is located on La Rambla one of the busiest streets in Barcelona. This market was mainly tourist aimed with colour sweets at the entrance to entice the tourists inside. There was a great buzz inside but not at all aimed towards local people. The market itself was huge with lots of products to choose from.

           

 

Mercat de la Boqueria

Sweet stall in Mercat de la Boqueria

Poster we made for presentations