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The digital divide and the growth of the hospitality industry: The case of Italian inner areas

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  • Maria Giovanna Brandano
  • Alessia Mastrangioli
  • Alessandro Palma

Abstract

We investigate the role of internet access in spurring tourism supply, a strategic driver of economic development, especially in the most ‘peripheral’ areas, characterized by a lack of technological infrastructure and other barriers that limit internet access and business opportunities. In a difference‐in‐differences setting, we exploit the recent Italian strategy for ultra‐broadband policy—aimed at boosting the diffusion of ultra‐broadband in Italy since 2015—as an exogenous source of variation in internet access to estimate the effect on tourism supply. In doing so, we employ detailed data on broadband coverage and tourist accommodation at the municipality level from 2012 to 2019. Our results show that the ultra‐broadband availability increased the tourism supply in four‐star hotels and bed and breakfasts, suggesting that policy interventions aimed at reducing the digital divide between centers and peripheries can boost local economic development and help the process of de‐peripheralization of marginal areas. Se investigó el papel del acceso a Internet en el impulso de la oferta turística, como motor estratégico del desarrollo económico, especialmente en las zonas más ‘periféricas’, caracterizadas por la falta de infraestructuras tecnológicas y otras barreras que limitan el acceso a Internet y las oportunidades de negocio. En un escenario de diferencias en diferencias, se aprovechó la reciente estrategia italiana para la política de banda ancha ultrarrápida, destinada a impulsar la difusión de la banda ancha ultrarrápida en Italia desde 2015, como una fuente exógena de variación en el acceso a Internet para estimar el efecto sobre la oferta turística. Para ello, se emplearon datos detallados sobre la cobertura de banda ancha y los alojamientos turísticos a nivel de municipio entre 2012 y 2019. Los resultados muestran que la disponibilidad de banda ancha ultrarrápida aumentó la oferta turística en hoteles de cuatro estrellas y casas de huéspedes, lo que sugiere que las intervenciones políticas dirigidas a reducir la brecha digital entre centros y periferias pueden impulsar el desarrollo económico local y contribuir al proceso de desperiferización de las zonas marginales. 本稿では、インターネットアクセスとビジネスチャンスを制限する技術インフラの欠如やその他の障壁に特徴づけられる、最も「周辺の」地域において特に、経済発展の戦略的推進力である観光供給を促進する上でのインターネットアクセスの役割を検討する。差分の差分法での設定では、インターネットアクセスの変動の外因性ソースとして、2015年以降のイタリアにおけるウルトラ・ブロードバンドの普及を促進することを目的とした政策戦略を活用して、観光供給への影響を推定する。推定では、2012~2019年までの市町村レベルでのブロードバンド普及率や観光宿泊施設の詳細なデータを採用した。結果から、ウルトラ・ブロードバンドの利用可能性が4つ星ホテルやベッド・アンド・ブレックファストの観光供給を増加させたことが示され、中心部と周辺部のデジタル格差を削減することを目的とした政策介入は、地域の経済発展を促進し、周辺地域の脱周辺化プロセスの支援が可能であることが示唆される。

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Giovanna Brandano & Alessia Mastrangioli & Alessandro Palma, 2023. "The digital divide and the growth of the hospitality industry: The case of Italian inner areas," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(7), pages 1509-1531, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rgscpp:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:1509-1531
    DOI: 10.1111/rsp3.12696
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