Deterrent or driver? An event-study on offshore wind farms and regional tourism in Europe

Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) are rapidly expanding across Europe as a key element of the transition towards renewable energy sources. Yet, their implications for coastal tourism are still being debated. This study provides the first large-scale quantitative assessment of the impact of OWF operational starts on tourism performance from 2013 to 2023 across 66 European coastal NUTS-2 regions. Using a staggered difference-in-differences event-study design and combining Eurostat tourism statistics with the Global Wind Power Tracker, we estimate dynamic causal effects across tourism segments. Results show a significant improvement in coastal tourism performance following OWF operational starts, while inland tourism remains comparatively stable. This growth is driven primarily by foreign visitors. The effects become apparent from the second post-operational year and persist over time. Overall, the findings suggest that offshore wind energy development can generate positive economic outcomes on regional tourism and can also support a more sustainable destination development.