The effect of virtual proximity and digital adoption on international tourism flows to Southern Europe

Autor:	Alexandre Guedes, Samuel Faria, Sofia Gouveia, João Rebelo
Rok vydání:	2022
Předmět:	Tourism Leisure and Hospitality Management Geography Planning and Development
Zdroj:	Tourism Economics. :135481662211167
ISSN:	2044-0375 1354-8166
DOI:	10.1177/13548166221116704
Popis:	This paper extends the traditional gravity model to explain the effect of digitalization on international tourism flows to five Southern European countries, where tourism plays an important economic role. The analysis is based on balanced panel data covering the period 2004–2019. Internet-user statistics and Google Trends search data are used as a proxy for digital adoption and virtual proximity, respectively, by source markets. Results lend support to the notion that virtual proximity rather than digital adoption aided international travel, demonstrating that digitalization cannot be interpreted as a fluid and vague concept that exerts a consistent effect. Results also present evidence that Southern European countries should not be treated as a block of homogenous destinations. These findings inform stakeholders regarding the significance of digital platforms as strategic tools to empower consumers.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::50030bf0cf3e4f87b1664d6cce090fa8 https://doi.org/10.1177/13548166221116704 Zobrazit plný text záznamu