ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to show how tourism has contributed towards the rehabilitation of some of Lisbon's central districts. It highlights how it has changed the lives of some who live there by offering a range of opportunities aimed at improving the physical conditions of the area and by making it possible to start new businesses. The chapter argues that the growth of tourism is part of the strategy followed by neo-liberal governments to strengthen the urban economy and to improve its competitive position in regard to the spatial division of consumption as Harvey has indicated, as well as favouring capitalist accumulation. In order to find empirical evidence the chapter chose two kinds of central neighbourhoods in Lisbon where the process of touristification has been marked differently. The first is the metropolis' traditional retail and services centre. The second is the historical working-class residential neighbourhoods located in the vicinity of this central business district (CBD), which is now home to restaurants.
