Energy, tourism and COVID-19
An analysis of energy consumption trends in EU islands during the pandemic
This study analyses the linkage between electricity consumption patterns and tourism during the pandemic
shock, investigating the real impact of touristic activities in terms of energy demand. It goes through the existing
literature that connects tourism and energy consumption, focusing on the electricity sector, and is accompanied
by a case study analysis. Nine islands and island groups with different touristic patterns and geographic
representation were selected from six EU Member States and three marine regions. The results reveal
correlations between reported lockdowns, drops in electricity consumption and tourist arrivals indicating the real
energy impact of tourism. Tourism-related socioeconomic and energy indicators in the selected destinations
show that the impact on electricity consumption was greater in those areas strongly characterised by a
dependence on tourism (measured as a percentage of regional GDP).
MARGOSI Maria;
PALAIOGIANNIS Foivos;
VASSILAKIS Athanasios;
KOUKOUFIKIS Georgios;
2022-10-11
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC128377
978-92-76-57026-4 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 31225 EN,
OP KJ-NA-31-225-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128377,
10.2760/63482 (online),
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