A study prepared by the Iniciativa Córdoba 2030 platform, which analyzes the structural issues of the province, highlights that hospitality in Córdoba is not only abundant but also a sector prone to the underground economy. This phenomenon is attributed to the lack of a robust industrial fabric and a primary sector that displaces labor, pushing many to seek an outlet in hospitality due to its low entry barriers.

The report indicates that the service sector contributes 50% of the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a figure that, according to the study's promoters, can be misleading as it includes public administration and financial activities. They warn that an economy that does not produce goods is dependent, relying on the consumption of what other territories manufacture and on tourist influx.

The underground economy in Córdoba reaches 3 billion euros annually, representing between 20% and 28% of its GDP, thus leading the figures in Andalucía. The oversupply of hospitality generates fierce competition that drives businesses to compress costs, facilitating practices such as undeclared employees, purchases without invoices, and unregistered working hours.

This situation harms workers, who see their rights violated and wages stagnant, as well as entrepreneurs, who obtain minimal profits. Furthermore, it degrades the quality of the city's offerings and its image, ultimately affecting the service received by customers. The platform warns about Córdoba's economic dependence on hospitality and tourism, a sector characterized by seasonality, precarious and poorly paid jobs, and limited capacity to boost other sectors.

The report also addresses the "privatization" of public space due to the proliferation of terraces, a phenomenon that has spread since the anti-smoking law of 2006. Unlike other major cities, the citizen response in Córdoba has been weak, allowing this trend to consolidate, transforming what should be a common space into an extension of hospitality establishments.