Gerasimos –Nikolaos Kotsis

• M. BOTSIS
• N. MYLONAS
• G. PSALLIDAS

This study examines structural transformations in regional economies and employment composition, linking them to the intensity of tourism activity. Its  primary objective is to investigate the relationships between tourism development  and key economic and demographic variables, as well as to conduct a causal analysis 
of these correlations through structural modeling. 
The research is based on the NUTS II spatial typology, enabling demographic and  economic comparisons across regions within the Mediterranean–Adriatic–Ionian 
complex, with the selection of countries guided by geographical proximity and tourism-related relevance. 
The theoretical framework incorporates Dependency Theory and its application to tourism as a driver of economic mono-specialization and external dependence. The analysis explores three main dimensions: regional resilience, economic monospecialization, and external exposure. These elements are further integrated with 
geopolitical factors, allowing for the mapping of highly dependent regions and the identification of vulnerability patterns within the study area.