The tourism economics of marginal and mature mountains. The case of the Regional Park of Corno alle Scale (Apennines), Italy

This study outlines a methodological procedure for assessing the economic impact of alternative territorial development projects in small areas by investigating the Regional Park of Corno alle Scale, in Northern Apennines, Italy. This is a Marginal and Mature Mountain (3M) destination suffering from displacement and population ageing since the 1980s and now attempting to regenerate its economy through tourism-based development projects. This process requires a prior understanding of the tourism impact on the local economy and the tourists’ behavioural intentions and attitudes, both issues addressed by this paper. Findings from a visitors’ survey undertaken in 2019-20 are merged with Input-Output tables to build a local Tourism Satellite Account, enabling to estimate the contribution of tourism to the local economy. This way, the economic impact of alternative development projects can be assessed, thus informing policy-makers on investments that can reshape local development but endanger natural and socio-cultural resources.