Pablo Juan Cárdenas-García

Does Tourism Growth Influence Economic Development

Having recognized the importance of tourism to economic growth, most international organizations have begun to argue that tourism growth can influence, as well, the economic and sociocultural development of society. However, recently, a new approach that criticizes the relationship between both dimensions has begun to be developed; suggesting that this is not an automatic relationship. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine whether the economic growth experienced in some countries as a result of the expansion of the tourism activity over the last two decades influences an increase in the level of economic development. To that end, a sample of 144 countries has been used, which verifies that this relationship occurs, especially in more developed countries, which calls into question the conception of tourism as a driving force of economic development for the least developed countries, and even in developing countries.

Tourism Growth Versus Economic Development: An Analysis by Multivariate Techniques

The debate about the role of tourism as economic development tool is not new, although in recent years, there have been interesting contributions to it. Many institutions have highlighted the importance of tourism as an engine of social transformation and tool for promoting economic development and growth potential, to the point that tourism is expected to generate over a horizon of no more than ten years 11.3 % of world GDP and 8.3% of employment. The economic literature has been agreeing with these statements, although there is growing consensus about the error of accepting this statement with absolute. The aim of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, it is to determine whether there is a relationship between the growth of tourism in a country and its level of economic development, and if so, with which sign, and on the other, to identify the factors that favour or hinder this relationship. The analysis was performed at a country scale using canonical correspondence analysis. This technique allows one to determine whether or not there exists a relationship (and in which sense) between two multidimensional variables – in this case, the growth of tourism and economic development.

The Influence of Tourist Satisfaction on Tourism Expenditure in Emerging Urban Cultural Destinations

ABSTRACT Satisfaction is an excellent predictor of tourist behavior, often used in marketing and destination management. This paper analyzes the extent to which tourist satisfaction influences tourism expenditure at the destination using a gamma regression model, based on the information obtained from 2967 surveys conducted in 14 emerging urban cultural destinations in Andalusia, Spain. The results obtained show that there is indeed a correlation between tourist satisfaction and tourism expenditure at the destination, and guide the implementation of specific policies by stakeholders in these destinations, in order to increase the economic impact generated by this activity.

Tourism and economic development: analysis of geographic features and infrastructure provision

The idea of committing to tourism as a tool for economic development – a decision supported by a large number of countries and international organizations – is becoming widespread, since the potential of tourism has been advocated, without a doubt, to improve the socio-economic conditions of host countries. However, in recent years, a critical school of thought has emerged that questions the universal validity of tourism as a development tool, and therefore calls into question the solution implemented by these countries and institutions. In this context, this research study, after analysing the validity of each one of these two schools of thought, advocates for an intermediate situation based on the premise that there is no automatic relationship between the two dimensions, but instead a country must meet certain characteristics in order for this link to occur. In this sense, since the scientific literature has shown the importance of geography and infrastructure provision in improving the living conditions of the population, the aim of this work is to identify what are the determining factors that help or hinder the transformation of tourism growth into economic development.

Population characteristics and the impact of tourism on economic development

Currently, there are two opposing research lines regarding the capacity of tourism to influence the level of economic development. In this context, this research study, after analysing the validity of each one of these two lines, advocates for an intermediate situation based on the premise that there is no automatic relationship between these two dimensions, but instead, a country must meet certain characteristics in order for this link to occur. In this sense, once proven the importance of population characteristics in the level of socioeconomic progress by scientific literature, applying an econometric model, using a sample of 144 countries – divided between more developed countries and less developed countries –, it has showed that the reduction of the emigrant population – especially high-qualified people – and the existence of low unemployment rates have contributed to the transformation of tourism growth into economic development. In addition, it has also demonstrated that countries with regressive population pyramids have greater difficulties for tourism growth improve their socioeconomic conditions. Therefore, international agencies and institutions that seek to use tourism as an effective tool for alleviate poverty should consider these factors before making significant investments that ultimately do not produce the expected results

Does the investment climate determine the transformation of tourism growth into economic development

Currently, there are opposing views concerning the capacity of economic growth resulting from the expansion of tourism activity to influence an increase in the level of a countrys economic development. In recent years a school of thought has been consolidating that there is no automatic relationship between the two, but that certain circumstances must occur in the structural foundations of a country for such a link to be made. The investment climate plays a decisive role in the economic development of a society. The aim of this paper is to identify, through a country-level empirical analysis, which specific factors related to the investment climate promote or hinder the transformation of tourism growth into an improvement of the living conditions of the population. The end result is that, in those countries with lower levels of development, the lack of an appropriate investment climate complicates this relationship (unlike in developed countries). Thus, continuing to invest in tourism in these countries without first solving the issues affecting the investment climate will lead to a failure of such investment.

Socio-economic profile of tourism expenditure in emerging urban-cultural destinations

ABSTRACT A large body of literature has analysed the factors determining tourism expenditure; however, there are no studies addressing tourism expenditure in emerging urban-cultural destinations. Therefore, the results do not permit to establish proposals aimed at improving the management of these tourism destinations. This paper proposes an explanatory model of tourism expenditure in the destination, according to the socio-economic characteristics of tourists, using a regression model with dummy variables based on the information from 2,967 surveys conducted in 14 emerging urban-cultural destinations of Andalusia (Spain). The analysis performed confirms the existence of socio-economic factors that determine tourism expenditure. However, contrary to what the literature reviewed suggests, income level and education level do not influence tourism expenditure in these destinations, probably because the tourism offer is so basic that tourists cannot spend more than they already spend. These results allow for guiding the implementation of specific policies by the stakeholders of these destinations.

Explaining tourism expenditure based on trip characteristics in emerging urban-cultural destinations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine, through a microeconomic analysis, the extent to which trip characteristics influence tourism expenditure in 14 emerging urban-cultural cities in Andalusia (Spain). Design/methodology/approach This analysis was carried out using an ordinary least squares method, which measures influence on tourism expenditure based on the trip characteristics of tourists visiting emerging urban-cultural cities. For this, the authors used 3,030 surveys conducted on tourists who, in 2013, visited 14 emerging urban-cultural cities in Andalusia (Spain). Findings It was confirmed that certain trip characteristics – type of accommodation, length of stay, trip planning and internet use – determine tourism expenditure in these destinations. The findings provide stakeholders in these destinations with information for the implementation of policies aiming to increase revenue in destinations where tourism development levels are still in their infancy and where, therefore, there are many unexploited opportunities. Originality/value First, this study identifies those trip characteristics which influence tourist expenditure in emerging urban tourist destinations. These destinations, to date, had not been previously analysed in expenditure segmentation studies. Second, aside from the factors traditionally analysed in scientific literature, other trip-specific variables were considered; these relate to the means by which tourists familiarise themselves with their destination and the way in which they plan their trip (use of the internet), as the rise of new technologies has radically changed tourism.

Tourism as an economic development tool. Key factors

Tourism may serve as tool of economic development (ED). The aim of this article is to determine, through the analysis of determining factors identified in previous studies, which are the most important variables in channelling tourism growth into ED. Using a multivariate linear regression model, the main push and brake factors have been identified, for both developed and developing countries. It has been concluded that countries should maintain low initial provisions for CO2 emissions, hospital beds, unemployment, energy without CO2 emissions, and working population. It is also necessary to reduce conflict-related deaths. These results may be crucial in the decision-making processes implemented by policymakers and destination managers, given that they provide extremely useful information for the planning of their actions.