Abstract

This essay analyzes the structural aspects and dynamic elements of the tourism economy in Apulia over the last twenty years, with the aim of understanding the causes and the related factors that, in this time span, have given an acceleration in the transformations of the regional tourism model. Furthermore, its purpose is to investigate the characteristic features and the potentials of the system, in order to understand if tourism is susceptible to further developments and to become a strategic sector of the Apulian economy. After having retraced the tourism heritage of the region, this study focuses on infrastructure and transport systems which, together with the complex of accommodation facilities, represent the essential elements for sustainable development of the sector. The analysis of the evolutionary stages of tourism in Apulia, carried out through the databases of the main regional and national institutions, is developed on a provincial and municipal basis, to assess in detail the potential and effective tourist attraction. Particular attention is then paid to the evolution of the accommodation offer and its effects in terms of employment and GDP (Gross Domestic Product), in a comparative context with other Southern regions and the country as a whole.