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Corresponding Author:
Nicola Acocella, University La Sapienza, MEMOTEF, Rome, Italy

Tourism in the World and in Italy

July 30, 2026
JEL classification: L83
Keywords: Cultural tourism; Leisure tourism; Tourism and inflation, Effects of tourism on the economy; Economic policy for tourism

Abstract

The article concerns the development of tourism worldwide and in Italy. The initial point analyses the changes in the quality and characteristics of tourism over time, with particular reference to what happened after the Second World War. After analyzing the causes of the marked growth of tourism in recent decades, it focuses on the impact of tourism on GDP in European Union countries. This comparative analysis shows that for Italy the impact of tourism on GDP is lower than that of other Mediterranean countries. Hence, some suggestions are made regarding the policy measures to be adopted to foster further growth in tourism demand in this country.


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Institute for International Economics
of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce


Istituto di Economia Internazionale
Camera di Commercio di Genova
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