Spatial patterns of tourism pressure in Mediterranean European countries

Abstract

[eng] This thesis analyses the spatial patterns of tourism use in the European countries of the Mediterranean basin. The spatial autocorrelation of the geographical distribution of tourism intensity at the municipal level is evaluated, detecting its level of concentration and dispersion. In addition, the distribution of tourist intensity is related to other territorial variables of a socio-economic (GDP, population density), geographical (proximity to the coast, land use), environmental (protected area, night-time light intensity, pressure index), etc. nature. At the methodological level, GIS spatial analysis tools and spatial econometrics (Moran's Global index, univariate and bivariate local autocorrelation index) are used. The results show a remarkable concentration of tourism intensity in the European Mediterranean territory (Global Morans 0.185) and a significant correlation between tourism activity and most of the variables considered. The analysis demonstrates the important role of tourism in the European Mediterranean territory and provides a territorial vision of the impact of tourism in relation to land use and anthropic pressure on the territory. The study demonstrates the usefulness of the study of tourism activity from a territorial point of view and its possibilities for providing decision support to tourism and territorial planners.