ABSTRACT
Measurement of tourism activity is important for both public and private sectors. Without reliable data, it is impossible to demonstrate the economic importance of the sector in terms of value added, employment, exports and imports. In many countries, the amount of tourism activity is still underestimated due to a lack of correct statistical information. This explains the numerous efforts, mainly over the last decade, by scientists and regional, national and international organisations to improve the tourism data system. In practice, several measurement systems are applied.
They can be classified in six groups: (a) a general tourism information system; (b) measurement of day tourists; (c) the Tourism Satellite Account; (d) tourism and holiday surveys; (e) the tourism production index; and (f) the tourism barometer.
