Ana Belén Ramón Rodríguez

Determining factors in entry choice for international expansion. The case of the Spanish hotel industry.

Abstract The hotel sector, as a service industry where it is possible to separate capital investment from management skills, is a clear example of how internationalisation can be modelled without shareholding involvement through foreign direct investment. This paper is an empirical examination of the key factors influencing the decision process carried out by Spanish hotel companies in choosing an entry mode for international expansion. The main objective is to verify whether the concepts derived from the transaction-cost, agency and the strategic theories of organisational capability and knowledge in companies can really explain the mode of foreign expansion employed by the Spanish hotel sector. This study will allow comparison of findings on holiday resort hotel chains with other analyses on the international hotel industry.

Determinants of the competitive advantage of residential tourism destinations in Spain.

This paper focuses on an analysis of the tourism competitiveness of residential destinations on the Spanish coast, applying Porters competitive advantage theory. This analysis is conducted with a hypothesis test using a structural equation model based on Porters competitive diamond. The paper shows that by analysing a range of variables, it is possible to develop attributes related to competitiveness which constitute Porters diamond model, confirming that this theory is appropriate for explaining the tourism development processes in residential tourism destinations on the Spanish coast. The results show how the competitive difference between destinations in such a specific geographical area is based mainly on small details belonging to the advanced factors of the competitive advantage theory. Finally, there is cause for concern in the fact that the supporting and related sectors determinant has a negative influence on competitiveness.

Cycles, Economic Crisis and Tourism Competitiveness in Spain: Mechanisms of Transmission and Structural Effects

La version espanola de este articulo puede encontrarse en http://ssrn.com/abstract=2197369.This paper considers the influence of business cycles and economic crises on Spain’s tourism competitiveness. This competitiveness is measured by its share in world tourism. Analysing a period of forty years, the permanent effects of temporary or structural economic crises on competitiveness are observed. Furthermore, it identifies the economic transmission mechanisms operating within this context, analysing them within the framework of the most relevant explanatory models of tourist destination competitiveness. The main conclusion obtained is that although in terms of demand the Spanish tourism industry has proved to be highly resilient to crises, when they are considered in terms of competitiveness (measured by Spain tourism international market share), the effects of these shocks are not neutral with the negative effects being more persistent in highly intensive crises. This effect works through two basic transmission mechanisms: the reduction of internal and external tourism demand and falling investment.

Accelerated Epi-On Versus Standard Epi-Off Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking for Progressive Keratoconus in Pediatric Patients

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness and safety of accelerated transepithelial (A-epi-on) corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) with standard CXL (epi-off) for children with progressive keratoconus. Methods: Prospective, cohort study including 61 eyes of 51 patients younger than 18 years with progressive keratoconus at Oftalmosalud Instituto de Ojos, Lima, Peru. A-epi-on CXL was performed for 36 eyes using 30 minutes of impregnation (0.25% riboflavin, 1.0% phosphate hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 0.007% benzalkonium chloride) and 5 minutes of irradiation (18 mW/cm2). Epi-off CXL was performed for 25 eyes using 30 minutes of impregnation (riboflavin 0.1% solution plus 20% dextran 500) and 30 minutes of irradiation (3 mW/cm2). Scheimpflug imaging parameters were evaluated preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results: Mean uncorrected visual acuity improvement was 0.12 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) for both groups (P = 0.09 for A-epi-on and P = 0.16 for Epi-off). Mean improvements in the best-corrected visual acuity were 0.09 logMAR (P = 0.05) and 0.06 logMAR (P = 0.05) at 12 months postoperatively for the A-epi-on group and the epi-off group, respectively. Mean maximum keratometry changes were +0.1 D (P = 0.62) and −0.94 D (P = 0.11) for the A-epi-on group and the epi-off group, respectively, at 12 months postoperatively. There were no significant differences between groups regarding changes in pachymetry and posterior elevation values (P > 0.05). Keratoconus progression was observed in 5.6% and 12% of eyes in the A-epi-on group and the epi-off group, respectively. Conclusions: Accelerated epi-on CXL and standard epi-off CXL are safe and effective for stopping the progression of keratoconus at 12 months postoperatively.

Cluster Tecnológicos Como Fórmula Para La Renovación De Los Destinos: Hacia Un Turismo Sostenible (Technological Clusters as a Way to Renew Destinations: Towards a Sustainable Tourism)

Spanish Abstract: En el actual marco de globalización, el análisis de la competitividad turística es cada vez más importante para los destinos, que se enfrentan a un mayor número de competidores y a una sociedad cambiante en relación a gustos, motivos y formas de viajar. Ante esta perspectiva de cambio, la innovación parece haberse convertido en uno de los principales elementos para la dotación de ventajas competitivas y diferenciación entre rivales. Paralelamente, el análisis de los cluster turísticos confirma que de su formación se obtienen incrementos muy importantes en materia de innovación, gracias a la relación competencia-colaboración que tiene lugar entre empresas. Pero hasta la fecha, en el turismo esta relación ha tenido lugar en un marco de cluster industrial, relegando a un segundo plano la innovación como elemento competitivo frente a otra serie de dotaciones. En este documento se expone la necesidad de generar clusters basados en la innovación como principal fórmula para evolucionar de acuerdo a las necesidades de la demanda y a las características del mercado, situando a los destinos en una posición de vanguardia y sostenibilidad. Esta transformación será fundamental para liderar proyectos de ciudades inteligentes y del Internet 3.0. El papel de las Universidades y del capital humano serán fundamentales para la adaptación del turismo en una industria centrada en la innovación. English Abstract: In the current context of globalization, the analysis of the competitiveness of tourism is increasingly important for destinations that are facing a changing society in relation to preferences, reasons for and ways of traveling. Considering this background of change, innovation has become one of the main elements for providing competitiveness, as it is happening in many other industries. The analysis of tourism clusters has shown that their formation increase innovation in a significant way thanks to the competition-collaboration relationship that takes place between companies. However, to date, this relationship has occurred within an industrial cluster framework which puts aside innovation as a competitive factor and shows signs of stagnation. Nevertheless, in this document we state the need to create clusters based on innovation, which are able to evolve according to the demand requirements, and placing the destinations in a state of sustainability - or even a continuous expansion. The role played by universities and the human capital will be essential for adapting tourism to a pioneer innovation-centered industry.

Ciclos, Crisis Económica y Competitividad Turística en España: Mecanismos de Transmisión y Efectos Estructurales (Cycles, Economic Crisis and Tourism Competitiveness in Spain: Mechanisms of Transmission and Structural Effects)

The English version of this paper can be found at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2201776.En este trabajo se considera la influencia de los ciclos y las crisis economicas sobre la competitividad turistica de Espana, medida a traves de su cuota de participacion en el turismo mundial. Analizando un periodo de cuarenta anos se observan los efectos permanentes que las crisis economicas, coyunturales o estructurales, generan sobre la competitividad. Asimismo se identifican los mecanismos de transmision economica que operan en este contexto, analizandolos bajo el marco teorico que brindan los modelos explicativos mas relevantes de la competitividad de los destinos turisticos. La principal conclusion obtenida es que si bien el turismo espanol se ha caracterizado en terminos de demanda por una fuerte resistencia a las crisis, las mismas no son neutras en terminos de competitividad, pues provocan efectos negativos sobre misma, que se tornan mas persistentes con aquellas crisis de elevada intensidad y que tienen su reflejo en la participacion mundial de Espana en el sector. Dicho efecto obra a traves de dos mecanismos basicos de transmision: la reduccion de la demanda turistica interna y externa, y la caida de la inversion.This paper considers the influence of business cycles and economic crises on tourism competitiveness of Spain. This competitiveness is measured by its share in world tourism. Analyzing a period of forty years, the permanent effects of temporary or structural economic crises on competitiveness are observed. The authors also identifies the main economic transmission mechanisms operating in this context, analyzing them from the theoretical framework provided by the most relevant explanatory models of tourism destinations competitiveness. The main conclusion obtained is that while the Spanish tourism has been characterized for a strong resilience to shocks in terms of demand, when they are considered in terms of competitiveness (measured by Spain tourism international market share), these shocks have not neutral effects, being the negative ones more persistent with those high intensity crisis. This effect works through two basic transmission mechanisms: the reduction of internal and external tourism demand, and falling investment.