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on Tourism Economics |
| By: | Andrea Filippone (Bank of Italy); MAssimo Gallo (Bank of Italy); Patrizia Passiglia (Bank of Italy); Valentina Romano (Bank of Italy) |
| Abstract: | The work analyses the recent trends in trips by foreigners on holiday in Italy, distinguishing among different types of holidays offered and the related destinations, classified according to the degree of urbanization and the endowment of cultural heritage. It also studies the characteristics of the travellers who are associated with them. Since 2010, the trend in international arrivals for leisure tourism in Italy has been similar to the global trend thanks to the sustained growth of cultural tourism, which now represents half of all overnight stays by foreigners on holiday in Italy. The artistic and cultural heritage of the country exerts a great power of attraction and enriches Italy�s other relevant tourist products, such as rural and seaside vacations. Since the great cities of art are the main attraction, especially for those who visit Italy for the first time, it follows that there is an increase in the concentration of tourists in the main national urban areas. Tourists who decide to come back to Italy tend to visit smaller towns more frequently. |
| Keywords: | holiday trips, cultural tourism |
| JEL: | L83 Z31 |
| Date: | 2019–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_501_19&r=all |
| By: | Andrea Petrella (Banca d'Italia); Roberto Torrini (Banca d'Italia); Guglielmo Barone (Banca d'Italia); Enrico Beretta (Banca d'Italia); Emanuele Breda (Banca d'Italia); Rita Cappariello (Banca d'Italia); Giuseppe Ciaccio (Banca d'Italia); Laura Conti (Banca d'Italia); Francesco David (Banca d'Italia); Petra Degasperi (Banca d'Italia); Angela di Gioia (Banca d'Italia); Alberto Felettigh (Banca d'Italia); Andrea Filippone (Banca d'Italia); Giovanna Firpo (Banca d'Italia); Massimo Gallo (Banca d'Italia); Paolo Guaitini (Banca d'Italia); Giulio Papini (Banca d'Italia); Patrizia Passiglia (Banca d'Italia); Fabio Quintiliani (Banca d'Italia); Giacomo Roma (Banca d'Italia); Valentina Romano (Banca d'Italia); Diego Scalise (Banca d'Italia) |
| Abstract: | The paper analyses the main trends and structural characteristics of the Italian tourism sector, which accounts for more than 5% of GDP and more than 6% of employment in the country. The study shows that in recent years the national tourist system has recorded a good growth performance, boosted by rapidly-expanding international demand for tourism services and by the competitive advantage of a unique artistic and cultural heritage. This has been associated with an upgrading of hotel accommodation in favour of higher-quality structures, and with an expansion of the non-hotel segment, partly fostered by the spread of the sharing economy and online intermediation. It is apparent, however, that some tourism potential still needs to be exploited � especially in Southern Italy, where the sector seems relatively undersized � and that potential risks are associated with the growing concentration of tourist flows in few locations. In order to cope with these problems, the paper argues that there should be a nationwide coordination of tourism policies, providing stable guidelines for the sector. |
| Keywords: | tourism, artistic and cultural heritage, accommodation capacity, tourism policies |
| JEL: | F14 L83 Z10 Z30 |
| Date: | 2019–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_505_19&r=all |