ISLANDS TOURISM SEASONALITY

Abstract

The islands of the European Union, generally associated with the sun and sea, attract the great majority of tourist flows in the summer months. This characteristic is shared by all the islands, be they in the Mediterranean or in the Baltic. However, through detailed analysis and the use of specific indicators, it was demonstrated that some islands are increasingly developing winter tourism in an effort to improve the annual occupancy rate of beds and mitigate seasonality curves. This study examines some islands that are located in different seas of the European Union, at different latitudes and hence in different climatic zones. These islands are: Cyprus (CY), Sicily (IT), Madeira (PT), and Hiiumaa (EE). The objective is to determine how weather affects tourism flows and to what extent these are the result of planning and development decisions. Climate and current development and tourism promotion policies will also be examined.