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The Economic Impact of Walking Routes: A Tourism-Led Growth Perspective in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Giovanna Brandano

    (Gran Sasso Science Institute)

  • Martina Dal Molin

    (Vilnius University)

Abstract

This article investigates whether and to what extent a new form of slow tourism, namely the tourism linked to walking routes, can be a driver for the economic growth of the destinations. Our main hypothesis is that the presence of a walking route in a province, or its number, could positively impact the economic growth in Italian destination provinces, measured as the Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP per capita). A new version of the Tourism-Led Growth Hypothesis (TLGH) model is used by adding the variable that measures the presence of walking routes in the 103 Italian provinces for the period 2000-2022. Results report that the presence of the walking route and its number, weighted by the provincial surface, positively contribute to economic growth. These findings demonstrate that an alternative tourism, with respect to mass tourism, can enhance marginalised destinations, foster economic development and a better quality of life for residents, via its economic impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Giovanna Brandano & Martina Dal Molin, 2026. "The Economic Impact of Walking Routes: A Tourism-Led Growth Perspective in Italy," Discussion Paper series in Regional Science & Economic Geography 2025-11, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Social Sciences, revised Feb 2026.
    • Handle: RePEc:ahy:wpaper:wp73
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • Z32 - Other Special Topics - - Tourism Economics - - - Tourism and Development
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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