Low-cost flights and changes in tourism flows: evidence from Bergamo-Orio Al Serio International Airport

The airport of Bergamo, located at Orio al Serio, 5 km, from the centre city, is the third airport of Milano, the fourth Italian airport in term of passengers and it’s totally characterized by low cost flights. Since 2002 it was the real driving force of the tourist development of the area of Bergamo, which in ten years has doubled its tourist arrivals. But some factors in this period modified the origins more times and consequently the features and the behaviors of the tourists arriving at Bergamo. Mainly: The exchange rate of some currencies with Euro; The economic crisis, that limited flows from some countries; The policies of flights carriers that change frequently connections, also because of the trend of demand
The effect has been a continuous evolution of the segments of the tourist market for the area that implied a different spending capacity too. The paper will treat and show this evolution and its motivations and will consider the implication on the policies of the local Tourism Board to support tourism in the area.