Domestic tourism demand in the North and the South of Europe in the Covid-19 summer of 2020

Abstract

This study investigates empirically changes in domestic summer tourism demand following the Covid-19 pandemic in 305 regions across six European countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden) based on official data. Five different groups of NUTS 3 regions are identified in accordance with a typology suggested by the OECD where density and connectivity are aspects of importance. Dynamic panel data estimations show that large metropolitan regions experience strong decreases in demand (approximately 30 per cent) both in July and August 2020. There are, however, clear differences between the Northern and Southern European countries. In the North, the remote regions encounter an increased demand that is partially offsetting losses in the large metropolitan regions. This pattern cannot be found in the South. The decline in domestic tourism flows to the major metropolitan areas is also more pronounced in the South of Europe, approximately 50 per cent per summer month compared with 20 per cent (July 2020) and stagnation (August 2020) in the North regions.

Identifying the Dimensions of the Domestic Tourism Demand Model in Tehran

“…The city's ability to cater to a wide range of tourist motivations, while addressing the barriers to tourism, is crucial for its tourism sector's growth. This requires a strategic approach, one that considers the economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions of tourism, as suggested by Falk, Hagsten, and Lin (2022), who analyze domestic tourism demand in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (Falk et al, 2022).…”

“…Furthermore, the pandemic-induced 'new normal' in tourism behaviors, as delineated by Boonkaew et al (2023), provides a contemporary lens through which to examine the shifts in tourist preferences towards more localized travel experiences (Boonkaew et al, 2023). This shift is reflective of broader changes in tourism dynamics, as evidenced by Falk, Hagsten, and Lin's (2022) analysis of domestic tourism demand in Europe during the summer of 2020, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of domestic tourism markets (Falk et al, 2022).…”