| Abstract: | Abstract The spreading of the globalisation process is actually modifying the traditional spatial pattern including tourist field organization. The traditional territorial structure of the tourist region is being remodelled at local level in new systemic, self-creating, self-regulating and self-promoting entities in a constant connection with a supra-regional reality. In Italy strictly tourist areas are being replaced by new territorial entities which can have the structure of tourist local systems, productive microcosms based on local relational networks involving municipalities, enterprises, tourist associations and other local stakeholders of the territorial system. So the spatial dimension of tourism is now influenced by local organizational models no more based on administrative units or traditional tourist regions but rather on spaces created by relationships among local actors. Such a self-structured development of local tourist systems is being observed in Sicily too, under the dynamic pressures expressed by the world market of vacations. Public and private organizations are joining forces to promote territorial development in recognition of their organizing abilities and of the sustainable progress perspectives of their spatial aggregation. |
