Evaluating the Economic Benefits from Tourism Spending through Input-Output Frameworks: Issues and Cases

The paper examines the economic effects of tourism spending within the framework of a regional Input-Output table augmented with a tourism satellite account. Two case studies from the Welsh economy illustrate the use of Input-Output tables to analyse the effects of tourism spending. The cases examined are the 2000 Brecon Jazz Festival, and the 1999 Rugby World Cup. In each case the effects of tourism spending are analysed in the context of varying regional economic conditions and constraints. Conclusions highlight the value of tourism satellite accounts as an aid to economic and policy planning at a time when tourism-led initiatives gain importance in regional economic development strategies.