The effects of Covid-19 pandemic on tourism in the Southern of Italy. The case of metropolitan city of Bari (Puglia)

The current Covid-19 pandemic has changed global scenario, characterizing an unprecedented crisis for the economic system. Among the major countries involved by this outbreaks, there is Italy. This country has recorded a high number of infections, an economic crisis due to the closure of many businesses, restrictions on movement and travel. Among the activities most affected globally there are tourism and hospitality sector. Considering the natural decrease in flows (UNWTO, 2020), the entity of which is still to be known, Italy has registered a countertrend: some regions such as Puglia, Sicily and Veneto represented the areas in which tourist traffic has basin especially for domestic tourism. This paper focuses the attention on metropolitan area of the city of Bari, for its strategic role in the Puglia region and beyond, its commercial and tourist flows and the different forms of tourism (religious, rural, coastal, cruise and inland areas) that characterize it. Empirical study is conducted through a qualitative-quantitative analysis of the tourist flows and a comparison between losses and positive trends that have involved the coastal and inland areas. In conclusion, if this pandemic has caused the drop of economic system, on the other hand it has redesigned the national tourist borders and has rediscovered the naturalistic and cultural heritage not only of cities but also of inland areas (countryside, farms, villages) of all the Italian regions, such as Puglia. This new form of proximity tourism which has registered over tourism especially in the summer season, invites all touristic stakeholders to plan new forms of tourism which enhances the lesser known aspects and strengthens the strengths of urban tourism in all forms, paying attention to sustainability.