A methodology for the measure of secondary homes tourist flows at municipal level

Abstract

The present public statistical system does not provide information concerning second houses touristic flows at sub-regional level. The lack limits local administrations' capabilities to take decisions about either: environmental, territorial and productive development, as well as regional governments in fair allocation of public financing. In the work, this information lack is overcome by proposing an indirect estimation methodology. Municipalities electric power consumption is proposed as an indicator of the stays on secondary homes. The indicator is connected to tourism flows considering both measurement errors and factors, modifying the local power demand. The application to Emilia-Romagna regional case allow to verify results’ coherence with officials statistics, as weel as to assess municipalities’ tourist vocation.