European Tourism Between Economic Prosperity and Green Pressures: Multidimensional Analysis of Resilience and Sustainability

Alina Haller; Larisa-Loredana Dragolea; Daniela Matei

doi:10.5755/j01.ee.37.1.41761

Authors

Alina Haller Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2069-9889
Larisa-Loredana Dragolea ”1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3780-1018
Daniela Matei Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5824-7725

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.37.1.41761

Keywords:

Tourism Resilience, Environmental Sustainability, Seasonality, Tourist Expenditure, Economic Freedom

Abstract

This paper analyses tourism influence on growth and environment in the EU27 for the period 2009-2024, integrating tourism-specific factors (seasonality, tourist revenues, tourist expenditures per trip, international arrivals, the share of tourism in total exports) along with macroeconomic and institutional variables (economic freedom, state investments in education, unemployment rate). We have approached tourism from two angles: economic (in terms of resilience) and ecological (in terms of environmental sustainability), applying multiple linear regression (MLR) and structural equation models (SEM), based on Pearson correlations. Tourism simultaneously and antagonistically influences the environment's resilience and sustainability. Tourist expenditure per trip, revenues from international tourism, the marginal effect of tourist flows, or tourist attractiveness, the market's freedom supports resilience, but not the share of tourism in total exports. Environmental sustainability is positively supported by market freedom and negatively endorsed by the tourist expenditure per trip. Seasonality appears as a reliable solution for both environmental sustainability and resilience. The results indicate no statistically significant effects of unemployment and education, and reveal that tourism dependency entails risks to resilient growth. Nevertheless, tourism remains essential for European economic prosperity. Reducing green pressure involves a series of concessions on seasonality and directing tourism revenues toward technologies and practices that reduce the carbon footprint. The novelty lies in the integrated approach to resilience and sustainability, highlighting the ambivalent impact of tourism, and showing that seasonality is rather a structural policy tool than a constraint in the simultaneous achievement of environmental and resilience objectives, offering insights with direct implications for European tourism development policies.

Author Biographies

Alina Haller, Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch, Romania

Alina-Petronela Haller is a Researcher (I), Dr. Habil. at Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research, Romanian Academy. She holds a PhD in Economics, is a co-author of two books, a co-editor of more than 20 proceedings volumes, and a co-author of scientific articles published in national and international journals. The fields of interest concern the macroeconomic area with a focus on economic growth, development, global tourism, economic policy, sustainability, and inequality. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2069-9889
Larisa-Loredana Dragolea, ”1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia, Romania

Larisa-Loredana Dragolea is an Associate Professor habil. at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia, Romania. She holds a PhD in Economics, and her research interests focus on management, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and educational policies. She has published articles in internationally indexed journals and has presented her work at numerous national and international conferences. In addition, she coordinates academic projects and career guidance activities within the university. She is a member of national and international scholarly communities, with a constant interest in applied research and interdisciplinary cooperation. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3780-1018
Daniela Matei, Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch, Romania

Daniela Matei is a Researcher (II) with a PhD in Economics, author of four books, and co-author of scientific articles published in national and international journals. Her expertise lies at the intersection of agrarian economics and regional development, with a focus on the potential of tourism as a vector of development within the European space. Her academic activity reflects a consistent interest in interdisciplinary themes and approaches, based on published works and participation in national and international research projects. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5824-7725