Geoffrey I. Crouch

The Competitive Destination : A Sustainable Tourism Perspective

The Evolving Nature of Competition and Sustainability Conceptual and Theorectical Perspectives Part I: The Competitive Destination Part II: The Sustainable Tourism Destination A Model of Destination Competitiveness The Macroenvironment: Global Forces Shaping World Tourism The Competitive (Micro)Environment: The Destination and the Tourism System Core Resources and Attractors: The Essence of Destination Appeal Supporting Factors and Resources: Elements that Enhance Destination Appeal Destination Policy, Planning and Development Destination Management: The Key to Maintaining a Sustainable Competitive Advantage Qualifying and Amplifying Determinants: Parameters that Define Destination Potential The Destination Audit: Putting the Model to Work.

Tourism, Competitiveness, and Societal Prosperity

Abstract Each society is faced with the decision of how best to provide for the well-being and quality of life of its citizens. The choices involved span complex economic, sociocultural, political, and environmental considerations. In particular, the economic base that a society chooses for itself has wide ranging ramifications. Increasingly, cities, states, and nations are turning to tourism as an important element in their economic portfolio as they recognize the potentially significant economic rewards at stake. Much of tourism development entails community development. If handled appropriately, tourism can become an important engine for achieving broader social goals. Whereas societies may aspire to achieve these goals, communities are struggling to manage tourism development effectively. Unfortunately, no integrative framework exists for managing all facets of tourism development. In this study the authors examine the link between societal prosperity and tourism using a competitiveness framework.

The Study of International Tourism Demand: A Review of Findings

An article in the Spring 1994 issue of this journal reported the results of a survey that examined the practices of 85 empirical studies of international tourism demand. This article reports a review of the findings of these studies. It concludes that findings vary widely and points to research that may clarify results.

The Study of International Tourism Demand: A Survey of Practice:

International tourism demand and its determinants have been the subjects of numerous studies over the past three decades. Previous reviews of this body of research have identified only a small number of these studies. In contrast, this survey has attempted a comprehensive review of the literature. In this article, the first in a three-part series, similarities and dissimilarities in approach are discussed as a guide to researchers wishing to conduct similar studies.

A META-ANALYSIS OF TOURISM DEMAND

Abstract This article integrates the empirical findings of 80 studies of international tourism demand. This was achieved using meta-analytical techniques — a field of statistics that has evolved in recent years and puts much more scientific rigor into integrative studies. Individual empirical studies produce useful results, but generalizations depend on the synthesis of these results across studies. The article shows that artifactual effects, and substantive and methodological inter-study differences account for much of the variation in findings. It discusses those results concerning the effect of country-of-origin and country-of-destination on the estimated determinants of international tourism demand.

Destination Competitiveness: An Analysis of Determinant Attributes:

The aim of this study was to develop an insight into the importance and impact of attributes which affect the competitiveness of tourism destinations. Using a general conceptual model of destination competitiveness, 36 competitiveness attributes were evaluated by “expert” judgment in the form of an online survey of destination managers and tourism researchers. These judgments were integrated and analyzed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In addition to estimating the importance of the attributes of competitiveness, the results of the AHP were further analyzed to produce measures of attribute determinance. These measures were then tested statistically to identify which attributes were judged to exert the greatest determinant impact on destination competitiveness. Ten of the 36 attributes were found to have determinance measures statistically significantly greater than average.

The Determinants of Convention Site Selection: A Logistic Choice Model from Experimental Data

One of the most attractive segments of the travel and tourism market is the meetings and conventions sector. Convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) covet this important visitor group to compete for a share of the spoils this segment now represents. But very little is known about the factors that determine how the site for a convention is chosen from among the many different alternative host destinations available. Consequently, CVBs and other destination management organizations (DMOs) lack adequate knowledge for competitive action. This study reports the results from a stated choice experiment on the Australian domestic conventions industry. It provides statistical evidence of the determinant site attributes that influence the choice of convention site and finds that although convention facility and accommodation factors are critical, a destination must offer additional features to compete effectively. The study also demonstrates the application of stated choice modeling for assessing the utility of each choice attribute.

Segmenting Markets by Travel Expenditure Patterns: The Case of International Visitors to Australia

This article addresses the issue of segmenting markets according to drivers of travel expenses, exemplified by the case of international visitors to Australia and modeled by means of hedonic (log-linear) regression. Based on characteristics of a trip (number of travel companions from the same household, duration of trip, and choice of type of accommodation) as well as the reason for travel and influences to come to Australia, the overall expenditure for a trip is estimated by log-linear regression. The results (all ceteris paribus) reveal that visitors from mature markets, most of them in Europe, tend to spend approximately 20% to 30% less on a trip to Australia than those from less mature markets, most of them in Asia. Attending conferences as a delegate, visitation to rural areas such as the outback, and travel aimed at enjoying local food and beverages are associated with higher spending compared to other reasons for visiting Australia. In contrast, (commoditized) beach holidays and visitation to events lead to comparably less spending. With regard to accommodation, the use of hotels results in expenditure of 20% higher than average for other forms of accommodation, whereas staying with friends and relatives leads to expenditures of 8% to 14% less than average. Finally, travelers on group tours spend up to 10% less than average.

Effect of income and price on international tourism

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of income and price on the demand for international tourism. Numerous empirical studies carried out over three decades have investigated their effect, but their results are quite varied. Therefore, the approach taken has been to integrate these findings and to examine whether inter-study differences account for any of the variability. The results indicate that estimated income elasticities of demand do vary as a function of certain substantive and methodological features. The results on price elasticities, however, yielded little information. Price is a complex factor in international tourism. The diverse attempts to define price appear to account for some of the variation in findings.

Marketing international tourism to Australia: A regression analysis

Abstract The aim of this study was to empirically estimate the impact of the international marketing activities of the Australian Tourist Commission on the number of tourist arrivals. Multivariable regression analysis was employed in order to estimate the elasticities of demand from five origin countries for a set of potentially important determinants. The results imply that the marketing activities have been significant in all cases but that other factors have also been very important. Several implications are discussed in terms of limitations of the findings and the allocation of marketing resources.