Special Focus: Local resources for tourism – from impact to growth

Consumption in tourism is a complex phenomenon, as it is a combination of both tangible and intangible goods. Local facilities, and more in general tourism resources, provide the basic background on which every tourist experience takes place. The role of public policymakers is crucial. On the one side, they should create the preconditions in order to both grant accessibility to tourism attractors and avoid inefficiencies. Such aspects include the attention to the overuse of local resources that may threaten preservation and reduce the positive impact of tourism on local communities. On the other side, public actors should settle both actual and potential conflicts with the interest of those private stakeholders, who are in search of profit maximization given their own resources and the constraints to their use.