Rubbish emergency impact on in‐bound tourism demand and on the number of visitors to museums

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to assess whether or not the weight of the impact of the recent rubbish emergency in the Province of Naples (Italy) causes a temporary impact inbound tourism demand and the number of visitors to museums situated in the Province.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on secondary data referring to monthly tourist arrivals and visitors to museums to the Province of Naples, during the period in which crisis reached its climax. The variation of tourist arrivals and visitors to museums between this period and the same period of the previous four years represents the means for detecting an eventual decrease in inbound tourism demand and visitors to museums.

Findings

Research findings show the variation in the number of tourists and in the number of visitors to museums in the Province from 2004 to 2008. Despite the pessimistic estimates reported by media, the situation in the Province of Naples, during the period in which the refuse emergency reached a climax, is quite surprising.

Research limitations/implications

Historical data do not refer to the whole period during which the crisis took place. The study cannot consider the long‐term impact of the refuse emergency on inbound tourism demand and on museum visitors, seeing as the crisis has only recently been resolved.

Practical implications

The research detects strong and weak points in the tourist offer in the Province of Naples; the elaboration of corrective practices and tools for reinforcing the image of the Province of Naples represent practical implications useful to local government, tourism operators, and museum managers.

Originality/value

This study is an initial attempt to analyse the impact of the refuse emergency on inbound tourism demand and on visitors to museums.

Citation

Siano, A. and Siglioccolo, M. (2011), "Rubbish emergency impact on in‐bound tourism demand and on the number of visitors to museums", International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506181111111771