Abstract The aim of this paper is to study the evolution of relations between the tourism industry and railway transport in Italy during the interwar years. The research is based on original data on tourist flows and passenger movements on the Italian State Railway (Ferrovie dello Stato – FS), between the end of the 1920’s and the early 1930’s. We consider the Italian locations that had obtained the status of Health, Residence, and Tourism Resorts (Stazioni di cura, soggiorno e turismo – hereafter SCST) under a 1926 Act, in that they had an Autonomous Agency of Health, Residence and Tourism (Azienda autonoma di cura, soggiorno e turismo). The data on tourism movements for each SCSTs – whose number varies up to a maximum of about 200 – were published in analytical form for the years 1929-1934; they refer to the arrivals and length of stay of tourists, making the distinction between Italians and foreigners. The SCSTs, of course, do not represent a comprehensive overview of Italian tourist resorts, however they can be considered a representative cross section by type and size of resort. Using the data on flows of passengers departing from each railway stations run by the State Railway, it is possible to select the SCSTs which had a railway station; these amounted to approximately one hundred. The data collected on tourist flows, railway passengers and resident population were analyzed in order to assess the link between these variables and their evolution over the period considered. The initial results of the research, still in progress, indicate that the train was still the main means of transport for Italian and foreign tourists, but they also reveal that something was beginning to change. Road transport began to gain space taking advantage of its flexibility not only in freight transport. But these were only the first signs of a phenomenon that would be fully developed after War World II, in the era of mass tourism. (Key words: tourism history – railways history – Italy – interwar years. JEL Classification: L83, L92, N74, N94)
Tourism and rail transport in Italy in the interwar years / Strangio, Donatella; Teodori, Marco. - ELETTRONICO. - (2012), pp. 1-16. (Intervento presentato al convegno Actas del VI Congreso de Historia Ferroviaria tenutosi a Vitoria-Gasteiz nel 5-7 septiembre 2012).
Tourism and rail transport in Italy in the interwar years
STRANGIO, Donatella;TEODORI, MARCO
2012
Abstract
Abstract The aim of this paper is to study the evolution of relations between the tourism industry and railway transport in Italy during the interwar years. The research is based on original data on tourist flows and passenger movements on the Italian State Railway (Ferrovie dello Stato – FS), between the end of the 1920’s and the early 1930’s. We consider the Italian locations that had obtained the status of Health, Residence, and Tourism Resorts (Stazioni di cura, soggiorno e turismo – hereafter SCST) under a 1926 Act, in that they had an Autonomous Agency of Health, Residence and Tourism (Azienda autonoma di cura, soggiorno e turismo). The data on tourism movements for each SCSTs – whose number varies up to a maximum of about 200 – were published in analytical form for the years 1929-1934; they refer to the arrivals and length of stay of tourists, making the distinction between Italians and foreigners. The SCSTs, of course, do not represent a comprehensive overview of Italian tourist resorts, however they can be considered a representative cross section by type and size of resort. Using the data on flows of passengers departing from each railway stations run by the State Railway, it is possible to select the SCSTs which had a railway station; these amounted to approximately one hundred. The data collected on tourist flows, railway passengers and resident population were analyzed in order to assess the link between these variables and their evolution over the period considered. The initial results of the research, still in progress, indicate that the train was still the main means of transport for Italian and foreign tourists, but they also reveal that something was beginning to change. Road transport began to gain space taking advantage of its flexibility not only in freight transport. But these were only the first signs of a phenomenon that would be fully developed after War World II, in the era of mass tourism. (Key words: tourism history – railways history – Italy – interwar years. JEL Classification: L83, L92, N74, N94)I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
