Is participation in the tourism market an opportunity for everyone? Some evidence from Italy.

Analysing the main determinants of tourism participation at national and international level, the paper investigates whether there are differences in tourism consumption behaviour among families. In particular, it explores whether tourism is becoming part of the lifestyle of Italians or whether it is still a luxury good only for the privileged. A Heckman model has been used on micro-data on Italian family expenditures over the period 1997-2007, and an income elasticity analysis for different personal and household characteristics has been carried out. Results show that participation in the tourism market is strongly affected by the personal characteristics of individuals and that tourism consumption is an income sensitive good. The analysis reveals that tourism is generally a luxury good. Income elasticity analysis shows both similarities as well as differences in Italian tourism consumption patterns at national and international level. We have found that consumption behaviour in tourism is affected not only by economic constraints, but also by cultural and territorial factors.