nep-tur New Economics Papers
on Tourism Economics
Issue of 2026–06–29
three papers chosen by
Laura Vici, Università di Bologna


  1. The role of SMEs in the development of tourism in Russia By Vera Barinova; Margarita Gvozdeva
  2. The everyday cost of paradise: seasonal grocery inflation as a tourism-led externality By Kuliš, Zvonimir; Mikulic, Josip; Srhoj, Stjepan
  3. Social Networking Site Users’ Behavioral Responses Toward Travel Destinations Promoted by Virtual Influencers: A Multiple-Model Comparison Approach By Ahmed Al Asheq; Rajibul Hasan; Joseph Coughlan

  1. By: Vera Barinova (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy); Margarita Gvozdeva (RANEPA)
    Abstract: The development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector
    Keywords: Russian economy, small businesses, tourism, hospotality industry, medium-sized enterprises, sanctions
    JEL: C53 E37 I18 I19 L21 L52 L84
    Date: 2026
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gai:ppaper:ppaper-2026-1619
  2. By: Kuliš, Zvonimir; Mikulic, Josip; Srhoj, Stjepan
    Abstract: This study conceptualizes tourism-led grocery inflation as a cost-of-living externality affecting everyday goods. Using retailer-published price microdata for Croatia, it aggregates 1.3 billion daily observations into monthly datasets covering May-October 2025. Prices are already higher in tourism-intensive coastal municipalities in May and then show additional coastal price growth over the summer, tracing an inverted U-shaped pattern that peaks in July-August and moderates by October. The pattern persists for essential goods and identical barcode-matched products. Retailer responses are heterogeneous: some chains show stronger coastal price increases during the peak season, while others show little or no coastal-inland differential. The findings identify a resident-facing tourism externality and support local cost-of-living monitoring to inform place-sensitive policy.
    Keywords: Tourism-led inflation, cost-of-living externality, retail price microdata, seasonality, resident welfare, Croatia
    JEL: E31 L83 D12
    Date: 2026
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1774
  3. By: Ahmed Al Asheq (Maynooth University - National University of Ireland Maynooth); Rajibul Hasan (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School); Joseph Coughlan (Maynooth University - National University of Ireland Maynooth)
    Abstract: Virtual influencers (VIs) are a novel, increasingly popular and successful marketing tool in the digital marketing landscape, specifically in the domain of travel destination marketing. However, how social networking site (SNS) users respond to VI marketing in the travel sector remains underexplored. To address this gap, we systematically identified, empirically tested, and compared nine theories to understand the drivers of social networking site users' visit intentions toward VI-promoted destinations. Using an online survey, we collected responses from 419 active SNS users and analyzed our data using partial least squares structural equation modeling, followed by a qualitative study (n = 18). Social power theory and parasocial interaction theory exhibited the highest explanatory power. Our research contributes to travel literature through deepening our understanding of the mechanisms by which VIs can influence visit intention, which is important for travel professionals' understanding of VIs' use in attracting a demographic that immerses themselves in social media.
    Keywords: Anthropomorphism, Parasocial interaction, Model comparison, Social networking site (SNS), Visit intention, Virtual influencers (VIs)
    Date: 2026–05–01
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05637454

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