The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs

The aim of this paper is to examine the role of culture in driving tourism demand across 35 local units within six European living labs. While prior research often relies on UNESCO World Heritage Sites as the sole proxy for culture, this study broadens the scope to include nationally protected sites...

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Main Authors: Davorka Mikulić, Blanka Skrabić Perić, Zvonimir Kulis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi 2025-06-01
Series:Eastern Journal of European Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2025_1601_04_MIK.pdf
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author Davorka Mikulić
Blanka Skrabić Perić
Zvonimir Kulis
author_facet Davorka Mikulić
Blanka Skrabić Perić
Zvonimir Kulis
author_sort Davorka Mikulić
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this paper is to examine the role of culture in driving tourism demand across 35 local units within six European living labs. While prior research often relies on UNESCO World Heritage Sites as the sole proxy for culture, this study broadens the scope to include nationally protected sites, intangible cultural heritage, cultural infrastructure, cultural enterprises, and three cultural governance indices: policy support, institutional presence, and strategic planning. Based on dynamic panel data from 2007 to 2019, the findings reveal that cultural resources and the number of cultural enterprises have a positive effect on tourism demand, while cultural infrastructure produces mixed results. Stimulating culture through cultural businesses and government expenditure also supports tourism demand. Furthermore, all three cultural governance indices demonstrate positive and significant impacts. The results of our research indicate that successful cultural tourism development relies not only on cultural assets but also on their effective governance and management. In this context, the living lab model serves as a valuable collaborative platform for developing integrated, sustainable, and inclusive cultural tourism strategies in small-scale EU regions.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2068-651X
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publisher Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi
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spelling doaj-art-407f8d89d68a4f34a83abc26ffba69a72025-08-20T03:28:24ZengAlexandru Ioan Cuza University of IasiEastern Journal of European Studies2068-651X2068-66332025-06-01161709710.47743/ejes-2025-0104The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs Davorka Mikulićhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4234-9924Blanka Skrabić Perićhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7448-3821Zvonimir Kulishttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0311-8376The aim of this paper is to examine the role of culture in driving tourism demand across 35 local units within six European living labs. While prior research often relies on UNESCO World Heritage Sites as the sole proxy for culture, this study broadens the scope to include nationally protected sites, intangible cultural heritage, cultural infrastructure, cultural enterprises, and three cultural governance indices: policy support, institutional presence, and strategic planning. Based on dynamic panel data from 2007 to 2019, the findings reveal that cultural resources and the number of cultural enterprises have a positive effect on tourism demand, while cultural infrastructure produces mixed results. Stimulating culture through cultural businesses and government expenditure also supports tourism demand. Furthermore, all three cultural governance indices demonstrate positive and significant impacts. The results of our research indicate that successful cultural tourism development relies not only on cultural assets but also on their effective governance and management. In this context, the living lab model serves as a valuable collaborative platform for developing integrated, sustainable, and inclusive cultural tourism strategies in small-scale EU regions.https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2025_1601_04_MIK.pdfcultural tourismcultural indicatorstourism demandpanel data analysiseuropean living labs
spellingShingle Davorka Mikulić
Blanka Skrabić Perić
Zvonimir Kulis
The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs
Eastern Journal of European Studies
cultural tourism
cultural indicators
tourism demand
panel data analysis
european living labs
title The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs
title_full The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs
title_fullStr The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs
title_full_unstemmed The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs
title_short The role of culture in shaping tourism demand: evidence from panel data analysis of European living labs
title_sort role of culture in shaping tourism demand evidence from panel data analysis of european living labs
topic cultural tourism
cultural indicators
tourism demand
panel data analysis
european living labs
url https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2025_1601_04_MIK.pdf
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