Article,
Cultural participation and tourism flows: An empirical investigation of Italian provinces
Affiliations
- [1] University of Southern Denmark [NORA names: SDU University of Southern Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [2] Dipartimento di Fisica [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [3] Trinity College Dublin [NORA names: Ireland; Europe, EU; OECD]
Abstract
The importance of cultural events for attracting tourism has often been posited in research, but rarely tested in relation to non-cultural activities. This paper investigates the association between participation in entertainment activities and tourism flows in Italian provinces, and finds that admission to theatre-type activities increases as the number of domestic tourists rises, whereas admission to museums or concerts rises with an increase in foreign tourists. Admissions to exhibitions and shows demonstrate a positive association with both domestic and international tourists, while non-cultural activities remain statistically insignificant. The results provide empirical support for the existence of a strong relationship between tourism flows and cultural participation. The findings also imply that the demand for entertainment varies depending on the origin of the tourist. © 2014 Publishing Technology.