Bridging the Gap Between Data and Action: Stakeholder Use of Tourism Observatory Information for Urban Governance, the Case of A Coruña

Urban tourism observatories are increasingly being promoted as tourism intelligence infrastructures capable of supporting evidence-based governance; however, their ability to transform data into actionable knowledge remains insufficiently studied. This study analyses the alignment between the information produced by urban tourism observatories and the information needs and uses of stakeholders, using the A Coruña Tourism Observatory (Spain) as a case study. A mixed-methods design was adopted, combining semi-structured interviews with key actors involved in the development and operation of the observatory and a survey of 229 stakeholders from the private tourism sector, subsequently integrating both sets of evidence through a joint display. The results show a partial alignment between the institutional provision of information and stakeholders’ practices. Although 60.3 per cent use data to support decision-making, 65.9 per cent of these rely on their own sources, whilst only 36.2 per cent are aware of the observatory and 17.0 per cent of the sample consult its information. Among those who do consult it, 64.1 per cent report that it has at least a moderate influence on their decisions. The findings reveal a sequential gap between production, availability, knowledge, access, perceived usefulness, utilisation and impact, and highlight the need to strengthen user-centred mechanisms that facilitate the transformation of information into actionable knowledge for urban tourism governance.