Sonja Jovanović

Examination of travel and tourism competitiveness contribution to national economy competitiveness of sub-Saharan Africa countries

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to examine the influence of travel and tourism competitiveness (measured by the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index [TTCI]) on the national economic competitiveness of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries (measured by the Global Competitiveness Index [GCI]). The aim is to identify critical factors for improving competitiveness of SAA countries from the area of tourism competitiveness. The study was conducted using the following methods: regression, cluster and grey relational analysis (GRA). Results reveal that travel and tourism competitiveness has a high impact on national competitiveness in the analysed group of countries. The study identified three homogeneous groups within SSA countries according to the TTCI pillars. The different impact of the TTCI on the GCI is determined in each of these three homogeneous groups of countries. The outcomes of this study could provide recommendations for tourism development policy-makers in SSA countries based on the results of GRA.

Homogeneity analysis of south-eastern European countries according to tourism competitiveness performances

The purpose of this research is to analyse the competitiveness of south-eastern Europe (SEE) countries with the help of The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) and The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), as well as to explore the correlation and mutual influence of these two indices. The aim is to explore the homogeneity of SEE countries according to tourism competitiveness performance. The research was conducted on the basis of secondary data sources and statistical methods, with emphasis on the cluster analysis. Structurally, the article is composed of the following parts: Analyses of the competitiveness of SEE countries according to GCI and TTCI, exploration of SEE countries homogeneity according to the GCI and the TTCI sub-indices, as well as according to the pillars within the TTCI. The research results indicate that there exists a high correlation between the TTCI and GCI, as well as that SEE countries are not homogenous according to these indices. The research provides the initial framework for benchmarking the tourism performance of different countries, and determination of objectives and strategies for improving tourism competitiveness.

Health and Hygiene Importance for the Improvement of Tourism Sector Competitiveness in Serbia and the South-eastern Europe Countries☆

Abstract Tourism and travel are important stimuli of the economic development, as well as of countries’ tourist competitiveness. Taking that into account, it is necessary to include wide spectrum of information which influence tourism competitiveness. For that purpose, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) has been developed, which does not show the list of countries attractive for the tourists, but stands for the index for the measuring of factors which contribute to the travel and tourism development. On the basis of this index, this paper analyses the travel and tourism competitiveness, in relation to the countries in the South-Eastern Europe. According to the last TTCI report of the World Economic Forum, in 2013, Serbia occupied the unenviable 89th place. The subject of this article is the travel and tourism competitiveness recognition in Serbia, on the basis of health and hygiene as one of the TTCI pillars. Health and hygiene are of crucial importance for many tourists choosing the destination and planning to visit one country.

Analysis of Cultural Resources of Southeast European Countries as a Factor of Tourism Competitiveness

Abstract The former role of tourism in terms of provision of accommodation and food has become outdated. Tourist offer increasingly includes additional activities, such as visits to various tangible and intangible cultural sites, and events that tourists perceive visually. In the contemporary tourism trends, cultural resources of Southeast European countries have become an important factor that maintains the competitiveness under conditions of the growing competition on a world scale. Cultural resources directly affect tourism, but there is also an inverse relationship reflected in the impact of tourism on cultural resources that are becoming an important factor for the choice of tourist destinations. The subject of this paper is to review the contribution of cultural resources to the development of tourist destinations with the help of the analysis of elements of Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index - TTCI.

The Development of a Knowledge Economy as a Factor in the Competitiveness of Central and East European Countries

The purpose of this research is to analyse the influence of knowledge resources on the competitiveness of Central and East European (CEE) countries. The aim is to identify the correlation between the achieved development level of the knowledge economy, as measured by the Knowledge Economy Index (KEI), and the competitiveness level, as measured by the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). The study was conducted using descriptive statistics, correlation, and cluster and regression analysis. Structurally, the paper is composed of the following parts: a) analysis of CEE countries’ competitiveness according to the GCI and KEI; b) examination of the correlation between the GCI and KEI in CEE countries; and c) analysis of the influence of pillars within the KEI on the GCI in CEE countries. The research results show that there is a strong positive correlation between the GCI and KEI. The outcomes of this study are useful for development policy-makers in CEE countries and highlight the relevance of improving knowledge economy performance in future.