| Abstract: |
This paper addresses the issue of social diversity, with reference to the
phenomenon of tourism in Italy. Social inequality influences numerous
socio-economic phenomena: tourism has been scarcely examined under this
perspective. Tourism has significant effects at social level: both on
travellers and on the inhabitants of the visited regions. Italy that is one of
the most important touristic nations is significantly affected by the
phenomena we are studying and, therefore, is an ideal context to analyse and
identify the characteristics of tourism and its interaction on various aspects
of social diversity. We could consider the interactions on tourism by persons
with different economic and social conditions, race, gender, age, religion,
mentality. These issues are usually considered by qualitative approaches. This
paper attempts to give a quantitative dimension to these phenomena looking for
possible statistical and administrative sources. We examined some, direct and
indirect, official sources of the National Statistical System and other
sources disseminated by European projects and research institutions. To get a
more detailed picture of a particular form of social tourism, we used the data
provided to us by a very active association in this area. This study is only a
first approach in order to find a strategy to help assessing some quantitative
characteristics of accessible tourism. The development of this type of tourism
shall imply actions, techniques, and policies aimed at reducing the problems
about social diversity in the sector, in order to make tourism become a factor
of social inclusion. |