Destination Competitiveness Research Articles

Destination Resources and the Growth of Cruise Tourism in Mombasa County, Kenya

Kenya is focused on being a piece of the voyage transport circuit. Towards this end, a first voyage terminal whose development is in progress in Mombasa will be finished inside the 2018 – 2022 period. The overall study goal was to determine the relationship between destination resources and the growth of cruise tourism in Mombasa County, Kenya. Cross sectional survey research design will be used in this study. The location of the study was Mombasa County where cruise tourism has developed roots in Kenya. The study was anchored on Dwyer & Kim model on destination competitiveness and Freeman stakeholder theory. Population of the study consisted of 340 respondents drawn from managers of tourism enterprises and senior managers at Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, as well as coast tourism and hospitality associations. The gathered information was analysed by use of descriptive statistics; mean, mode, median, standard deviation, tables, figures, rates and frequencies. The SPSS 28 was used to analyze the data. Plausible results of the investigation were that port's inalienable attributes, foundations, and travellers assets are just a portion of the variables deciding journey the travel industry advancement hence significant that the administrative structure that bolsters the improvement of this industry and that neighbourhood open and private organizations cultivate compelling associations with voyage lines and mastermind programs guaranteeing a satisfactory progression of journey vacationers every year. The quantitative findings revealed a significant positive relationship between destination resources and the growth of cruise tourism, supported by a high R Square value of 0.794 and a significant F value of 1099.616 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the study revealed significant relationships between destination resources and the growth of cruise tourism in Mombasa County. To enhance cruise tourism, stakeholders should focus on optimizing destination resources. Recommendations include continuous infrastructure development, targeted marketing campaigns, and community engagement. The study contributes valuable insights for policymakers, industry players, and researchers to foster sustainable growth in Mombasa's cruise tourism sector. Submitted 19th Jul 2024 Reviewed 29th Sep, 2024 Accepted 5th Oct 2024 Published 20th Oct 2024

How Gastronomic Image Shapes Tourism Competitiveness: An Approach with Sentiment Analysis

The competitiveness of tourist destinations is influenced by their relative attractiveness, which will play an essential role in their global success; gastronomy is one of the main motivations that lead tourists to visit a given destination. This research aims to investigate gastronomy’s role in the destination’s competitiveness and image through the analysis of online reputation, both in terms of ratings and sentiments provided by the experience, through the creation of an index of the online reputation of gastronomic image. Online restaurant reviews retrieved from TripAdvisor, from restaurants belonging to eight tourism destination regions, considered the competitive set to the Algarve, are analysed by applying sentiment analysis algorithms. With regard to the Algarve region, it was concluded that the Costa del Sol and the Tropical coast were the most competitive regions in terms of gastronomic image, where the inclusion of seafood products in meals was one of the strategic aspects used to increase the competitiveness of this region. These results can help restaurant managers and destination management organisations to better understand the different customer needs and how to increase their competitiveness.

MARKETING FACTORS OF COMPETITIVENESS MEDITERRANEAN MARKET OF TOURIST SERVICES

The article analyzes the system of marketing factors of the competitiveness of the Mediterranean leisure industry since the promotion of tourist services today becomes impossible without the use of modern technologies. It is noted that the digitalization of marketing communications allows for the formation of unique competitive advantages of the Mediterranean tourism industry through the use of an integrated approach to the most effective combination of classical marketing provisions and the potential of modern technologies in the competitive environment of the tourism industry. Classical marketing techniques and digital technologies offer enormous potential for maximizing tourism revenues, increasing tourism demand, improving the quality of supply and facilitating communication. The influence of marketing elements on the competitiveness of the tourism industry of the Mediterranean countries is evaluated. It has been proven that this influence is uneven and differs according to the destination and the stage of creation and provision and implementation of the tour service. This influence is observed most in the sphere of pricing in Spain and least - in the sphere of tourism product promotion in such European countries as Albania and African countries - Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Directions for the analysis of the competitiveness of destinations in the Mediterranean region are proposed, which can be carried out according to different criteria and through different perspectives, such as: customer expectations, tourist satisfaction and service value, tourist and destination motivations, branding, destination attractiveness, destination sustainability and destination value. It is emphasized that, in contrast to classical marketing, modified tourism marketing was formed as a mix that includes seven elements: tourism product, tourism product pricing, distribution of tourism services, tourism promotion, human potential, service provision process and customer service, and which to varying degrees provide competitive advantages of the countries of the Mediterranean basin. It is shown that the competitiveness of the Mediterranean tourism industry has a double structure. Its first element is the process of positioning tourist products on the market of leisure services, the second is the efficiency of the operational activities of tour operators. It has been confirmed that the drivers of the main changes in the market of tourist services of the Mediterranean that have occurred recently are the intensive introduction of information technologies in marketing activities, where the main trends in the development of the leisure industry have become the globalization of the tourist business and the dominance of Internet technologies in the system of promoting tourist services.

How is Food Tourism Narrated on Tiktok?

This research note aims to explore the relations between food tourism and short-video platforms, specifically TikTok, to understand how destinations promote food-related tourist experiences. Based on an exploratory qualitative approach, the study examines the role of food tourism in digital destination marketing focused on 29 TikTok videos from 16 global destinations. Results reveal that while food consumption is central to the promotion of these experiences, the content also emphasizes the preservation of local heritage and traditions through culinary products, dishes, and the surrounding environment. This highlights the importance of food in tourism marketing, as well as the collaborative creation of food tourism experiences that enhance the competitiveness of destinations. The research note contributes to advance research on the relationship between food tourism and social media, and it offers insights for future studies to explore the dynamic relations between destination marketing and food tourism.

The impact of all-inclusive offerings in a tourism destination’s competitiveness

This study analyzes the impact of all-inclusive offerings on a destination's competitiveness. When the rise in all-inclusive offerings causes a negative externality on complementary services, it creates a market-size effect. This results in an excessive supply of all-inclusive offerings in the market. Imposing different taxes on all-inclusive and non-all-inclusive offerings is more effective than a cap on the supply of all-inclusive offerings. Taxes can implement the optimal allocation. We expect the market-size effect to be harmful to competitiveness in mature destinations.

Analysis of destination competitiveness, tourist experience, and behavioral intention of tourists in MIMAROPA: Basis for destination competitiveness framework

Analysis of destination competitiveness, tourist experience, and behavioral intention of tourists in MIMAROPA: Basis for destination competitiveness framework

Competitiveness in Sustainable Gastronomic Tourism: Integration of Environmental Practices in Latin American Destinations

This study explores how the integration of environmental practices in gastronomic tourism can increase the competitiveness of tourist destinations in Latin America. Through the analysis of cases in Mexico, Peru and Colombia, sustainable strategies are identified, such as the use of local products and the reduction of waste, which not only contribute to sustainable tourism development, but also improve the image and attractiveness of destinations. The results show that destinations that implement sustainable environmental practices are perceived as more attractive and competitive in a tourism market that is increasingly aware of ecological impacts.

Firm Resources and Competitive Advantage of Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions in Kenya

Studies have investigated the effect of firm resources on the management of firms, with very little being done on the attractiveness of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) destinations. This study aims to examine how firm resources influence competitiveness of MICE destinations in Kenya. Tangible and intangible assets are the two main categorization of firm resources used for this study, with tangible assets being characterized by brand reputation, innovation and facilities and equipment, while tangible assets being characterized by technology, location and access to financial resources characterized intangible and tangible resources respectively Resource-Based View theory was adopted as the theoretical foundation of the study, as it analyses MICE destination as a bundle or resources which creates value that can never be imitated by competitors. The study applied explanatory research design anchored on positivist philosophical paradigm and the target population was 496 MICE establishments in Nairobi and South-Rift circuits. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 107 MICE establishments. Data collection was through closed-ended questionnaires, with marketing/or operations managers. Data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Study hypotheses were tested using F-statistic and t-statistics. Findings showed that tangible assets had no significant effect on competitiveness while intangible assets had a significant direct effect on competitiveness. Intangible assets were significant in determining competitive advantage of MICE establishment implying that they need to capitalize more on intangible assets as opposed to tangible assets. The study also confirms the falsifiability of RBV theory as regards tangible assets and therefore recommends exploring other theories to understand how tangible assets affect competitive advantage.

Smart city construction impact on destination competitiveness: a time-varying difference-in-differences analysis of Chinese prefectural-level cities

Purpose This paper aims to analyze how smart city construction affects destination competitiveness and elucidates the potential mechanisms of digital economy. Also, the regional heterogeneity of smart city construction’s influence on destination competitiveness is discussed. Design/methodology/approach Given the quasi-natural experiment characteristics of China's smart city construction pilot, this study applies a time-varying difference-in-differences approach using a panel dataset of 272 Chinese prefectural-level cities to examine the causal effects of smart city construction on destination competitiveness. Findings Results indicate substantial enhancement of urban destination competitiveness from smart city construction, with this effect escalating annually. Digital infrastructure and digital finance serve as influence mechanisms. The positive impacts of smart city construction on urban tourism competitiveness do not differ by geographic location, rather there are significant differences between cities of different administrative levels. The impact of smart city construction on destination competitiveness is more significant in low administrative level cities. The improvement of economic development level and innovation ability helps to exert the positive impact of smart cities on tourism competitiveness. Originality/value This study constructs a new panel data set for smart city construction and destination competitiveness based on multi-source data and posits a theoretical linkage among smart city construction, digital economy and destination competitiveness. This paper provides invaluable insights on how to boost destination competitiveness by creating smart cities and leveraging the digital economy. Tourism sectors should proactively engage in smart city construction and foster the digital transformation of tourism.

Travel through dynamic landscapes: Exploring key factors in developing visual identities for destination brands

The competitiveness of destinations is significantly shaped by innovation and experimentation, exemplified by applying Dynamic Visual Identities (DVI) in branding practices. This study aims to define the key factors most considered in developing destination brands with dynamic visual identities. Our research analysed 53 international cases in which designers employed dynamic visual strategies. Commitment, sustainability, and complexity factors were identified in our analysis. Participation through DVI enables different stakeholder groups to be involved in the creative process, making the destination more attractive to visitors and residents also. This research offers a unique perspective in respect of the intersection of design communication (DIS:CO) and tourism.

Nexus of Regenerative Tourism Destination Competitiveness, Climate Advocacy and Visit Intention: Mediating Role of Travel FOMO and Destination Loyalty

The Game Theory is aiding global tourism research to leverage destination appeal and competitiveness in the context of climate change advocacy. As global tourism continues to play a vital role in economic development and cultural exchange, there is a growing need to unravel the complexities of tourist behavior and destination competitiveness. Therefore, this study aims to utilize the Game Theory to investigate the relationships between Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Regenerative Tourism Destination Competitiveness (RTDC), Tourist Visit Intention (TVI), and Destination Loyalty (DL) within the UAE, with the moderating role of Climate Advocacy. An online survey (using Google Forms) was distributed via social media platforms (primarily Facebook groups), resulting in data collection from 296 respondents. Smart PLS 4 and SPSS were utilized for data analysis. The findings revealed that RTDC had significant positive relationships with FOMO, DL, and TVI, thus supporting hypotheses 1 to 10. However, the hypothesis regarding Climate Advocacy moderating DL and TVI was not supported. Based on the Game Theory, this study contributes to the theoretical understanding of regenerative tourism destination competitiveness and offers practical implications for destination management strategies. Limitations include reliance on self-reported data and context-specific considerations. Future studies should also consider cultural contexts, to enhance the external validity of research outcomes.

Promoting the Nation: Conflicting Theories of Tourism during Decolonization in Papua New Guinea, 1960–70s

ABSTRACT This article delves into the development of tourism in Papua New Guinea during the decolonization era from 1960 to the 1970s. It argues that divergent theories and strategies emerged regarding the promotion of tourism. One perspective, championed by the Australian colonizers, viewed the exotic aspects of the Indigenous savage culture as the primary attraction for tourists. On the contrary, another faction led by nationalist Papuans and New Guineans advocated for a focus on respect and dignity of the Indigenous people, aligning with the nation’s journey towards self-governance and eventual independence. This article highlights the significance of promoting a positive image and upholding respect, particularly in a nation grappling with perceptions of ‘otherness’ and a legacy of colonialism. As Papua New Guinea progressed towards self-rule and sovereignty, tourism development became intertwined with broader national development objectives that prioritized economic empowerment and the welfare of its citizens over the pursuit of a competitive destination in the Pacific.

The Effect of Environmental Management and Sustainability on Destination Image and Tourist Revisits at Tourism Destinations in Bandung

This study investigates the impact of environmental management and sustainability practices on the destination image and tourist revisit intentions at tourism destinations in Bandung City. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 160 tourists using a Likert scale survey. Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) was utilized for data analysis. The findings reveal that both environmental management and sustainability practices positively influence destination image, which in turn significantly affects tourists' intentions to revisit. Notably, sustainability practices have a stronger impact on both destination image and revisit intentions compared to environmental management alone. These results underscore the importance of integrating comprehensive sustainability strategies into tourism planning to enhance destination competitiveness and attract environmentally conscious tourists. The study provides practical insights for tourism managers and policymakers aiming to foster sustainable tourism growth in Bandung City.

The factors that contribute to Da Nang's competitiveness as a tourism destination in Vietnam

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic, this industry has been severely affected worldwide. To recover the tourism sector and attract tourists back to destinations, it is important to consider whether a destination has any notable competitive advantages compared to others. The opinions and perspectives of tourists in evaluating the attractiveness of a destination are crucial because they directly influence their decision to visit that destination. However, currently, the number of studies based on the demand-side perspective is relatively scarce compared to the supply-side perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine the impact of resources and capabilities in enhancing the destination competitiveness of Da Nang City from the tourists’ perspective. The research conducted a survey of 415 domestic tourists visiting Da Nang City through an online survey on social networks, namely Facebook and Instagram. The research provides an in-depth understanding of specific factors and their influence on the destination competitiveness of Da Nang City. These findings will be valuable for marketing strategies and destination management to enhance the competitiveness of Da Nang City as a tourist destination.

Sustainability in tourism and hospitality: Artificial intelligence role in eco-friendly practices in Indian hotels

This study explores the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the growth and competitiveness of regional tourism and hospitality destinations. AI's application has both positive and negative effects on sustainable tourism. On the positive side, AI enhances accessibility to tourist sites, provides detailed information about attractions, simplifies understanding of costs and amenities, boosts local economies, and increases federal income. A notable downside is the replacement of human workers by machine learning technologies, which may necessitate remedial measures such as training. This review examines AI's foundational IT principles, current applications, and systems in the industry, focusing on the hotel sector. It concludes with an overview of AI’s challenges in this field, proposes a research agenda, and suggests future directions for AI development in tourism and hospitality.

The Manta mystique: Destination image and its effect on tourist citizenship behavior and willingness to sacrifice

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced tourism managers to reevaluate their strategies for attracting visitors and aiding in the recovery of destinations. This new approach emphasizes increased tourist engagement with the destination and stresses the importance of concepts like tourist citizenship behaviors and their willingness to sacrifice. This research investigates the correlations among destination image, tourist citizenship behaviors, and the willingness to sacrifice. By examining these factors, the study provides valuable information into the emotional and cognitive aspects of tourists’ interactions with the destination image and their collaborative behaviors. This information can be used to enhance the visitor experience and the attraction of the destination. Conducted in the captivating city of Manta, Ecuador, this research aims to address the gap in understanding tourists’ perceptions of South American destinations, presenting a unique perspective on the region's tourism potential. Beyond advancing tourism literature, this comprehensive study offers practical approaches for destination marketing organizations to attract tourists and enhance destination competitiveness.

Does location affect the mechanism of tourism competitiveness? Evidence from machine learning analysis

Evaluation of tourism competitiveness is crucial for the development of destinations. However, a research gap exists in comprehending the spatial variances in the factors that influence tourism competitiveness. This study aims to fill this gap by empirically investigating the spatially heterogeneous effects of determinants related to tourism competitiveness. To achieve this, we utilized multi-source data, geographically neural network weighted regression, and Shapley additive explanations. The results revealed that market demand, physiography, and attractions are the most significant factors contributing to tourism competitiveness. Furthermore, the relative importance of these influencing factors varies across locations, based on different destination types, market contexts, and resource characteristics. These findings provide valuable implications for policymakers to enhance destination competitiveness through adopting localized strategies.

Determinants of tourism destination competitiveness in Savannakhet province, Lao PDR: A proposed model

Determinants of tourism destination competitiveness in Savannakhet province, Lao PDR: A proposed model

Exploring tourism competitiveness in developing economies: residents’ perspective

Understanding the factors that contribute to tourism competitiveness in developing economies is essential for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers, as these countries still struggle to fully capitalize on their tourism potential. The residents’ perspective, often overlooked in Tourism Destination Competitiveness (TDC) models, is crucial because they are the primary stakeholders who directly experience the consequences of tourism activities in their daily lives. Their positive attitudes can contribute to a welcoming and friendly environment, enhancing the competitiveness of the destination in the global tourism market. Up to now, there have been a few studies that relate residents’ attitudes to tourism destination competitiveness. However, none have focused on developing a tailor-made model for measuring residents’ perspectives on TDC. To develop such a specific model and contribute to the existing theory in this area, our research applied a multi-step approach, including a literature review of existing models, pilot testing for indicator selection, and model validation through CFA. The data were collected through a survey of residents in Serbia, chosen as an example of a developing country. The final model of the study consists of five factors: Natural and Cultural Resources, Quality of Tourist Offer and Infrastructure, Situational Framework of Tourism Development and Management, Destination Perception and Experience, and Pollution, containing 32 indicators. Practical applicability of the model and theoretical contributions are discussed in the paper, as well as the TDC evaluation for Serbia.

Medical Tourism Management

Medical tourism, the practice of traveling abroad for medical treatment, has gained substantial attention in recent years due to its implications for healthcare delivery and tourism industry dynamics. This paper investigates the management strategies employed in medical tourism destinations, focusing on enhancing healthcare services and tourism competitiveness. Utilizing secondary data from scholarly articles, reports, and industry publications, the research synthesizes existing knowledge on medical tourism management frameworks, destination competitiveness factors, patient experiences, and healthcare quality metrics. The study employs a qualitative analysis approach to distill key insights and patterns from the literature, shedding light on effective management practices and their impact on patient outcomes and destination attractiveness. Findings reveal the importance of strategic planning, collaboration between healthcare providers and tourism stakeholders, quality assurance mechanisms, and marketing strategies in optimizing medical tourism experiences. The paper discusses implications for policy development, industry regulations, and sustainable growth strategies in medical tourism destinations. By leveraging secondary data sources, this research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of medical tourism management dynamics, offering practical insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and tourism professionals navigating this evolving landscape. Keywords- Medical tourism, Management strategies, Destination competitiveness, Healthcare quality