Methodological framework for producing national tourism statistics from mobile positioning data. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saluveer, Erki; Raun, Janika; Tiru, Margus; Altin, Laura; Kroon, Jaanus; Snitsarenko, Tarass; Aasa, Anto; Silm, Siiri
• Is Part Of: Annals of tourism research. Volume 81(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Tourism statistics -- Mobile positioning -- Cross-border tourism -- Accommodation statistics -- Estonia; Tourism -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2020.102895
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-7383

Abstract

Abstract: Due to the ongoing increase in daily mobility, reductions in border controls, and new trends in tourism, it is important to find new ways to record comprehensively the growing number of tourists. This paper describes a method of extracting cross-border statistics on tourism from roaming call activities found within passive mobile positioning data. Eesti Pank (the central bank of Estonia) has been using these data and methodology since 2008 to calculate the national balance of payments and publish tourism statistics. Statistics obtained from mobile positioning data are herein compared with statistics on accommodation. Results indicate that positioning data enables the generation of detailed statistics on tourism, and for inbound visits, there is a strong correlation with official statistics on accommodation. Highlights: Mobile positioning data allow the generation of statistics on tourism. Inbound, outbound, same-day, multi-day visits can be identified from mobile data. Monthly and yearly visitor statistics by country of origin can be calculated. Mobile data correlate strongly with Estonian inbound statistics on accommodation. Mobile positioning data are continuous, timeliness, and granular in time and space.