Indicators of competitiveness in tourism: Case of Serbia, Montenegro and FYR Macedonia (original) (raw)

Serbian Destination Competitiveness: Analysis of the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) was developed in 2007 within the context of the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Industry Partnership Programme for the Aviation, Travel and Tourism sector. TTCI aims to measure the factors and policies that make it attractive to develop travel and tourism (TT) sector in countries worldwide and to improve the industry's competitiveness in their national economies. Using this index, the WEF has ranked the competitive performance of different countries and suggests that this cross-country analysis of the drivers of competitiveness in TT provides useful comparative information for making business decisions and additional value to governments wishing to improve their TT environment. This index is recognized as a welcomed further step in the process of providing a better understanding of competitiveness, its meaning and measurement in a tourism context. In general, compared to 140 countries in the world, competitiveness of Serbian tourism is not favorable. TTCI considers a very small number of indicators as significant competitive advantage in Serbian tourism industry. For this reason, WEF's research on the competitiveness in the field of TT has put Serbia at the bottom of the list of European countries. Certainly, it is not an appropriate place regarding its geographical position and available resources. However, they make a comparative advantage, but what essentially makes tourism competitiveness is one's ability to long-term use resources in an efficient way for tourism. The purpose of the paper is to gain insights from the results of the TTCI of Serbia and give a comparative analysis of indicative data of Serbian tourism competitiveness for the period between 2007 and 2013. By highlighting success factors and obstacles to TT competitiveness of the country and observing its trend in the past seven years, the TTCI can be used as one of the tool to identify if Serbian tourism policy has moved in the right direction and made efforts toward taking advantages of strengths and overcoming barriers that impede the development of the sector.

Competitiveness of Serbia as a Tourist Destination – Analysis of Selected Key Indicators

To achieve the favourable competitiveness position, tourist destination hasto offer quality experiencesto tourists that can make the destination more attractive compared to other tourist destinations. The role of destination management isto exploit and develop existing resources by using clear and effective strategiesfor developing tourism products and creating additionalvalue of tourist experience.The firststep of analysis isto define destination competitiveness by using the indicators which will review and give the guidelinesfor improvement of competitive position. This paper discussesthe tourist destinations’ competitiveness and indicatorsfor its measurement with a special reference to Serbia. Tourism development of Serbia is a big chance for overall economic development of the country.Current competitive position of Serbian tourism on international market is not satisfactory and this paper istrying to analyse and to point out the reasons of Serbia’stourism low competitiveness. Conclusions about the competitive positioning of Serbia as a tourist destination are drawn out firstly based on the relevantstudies as well as on the Serbian Tourism Development Strategy. The results of Travel and Tourism CompetitivenessIndex (WEF TTCI) reportsfor Serbia are also presented. Based on own research, this paper is also showing the resultsrelated to competitiveness of Serbia as a tourist destination in terms of two groups of indicators: natural, cultural and historical resources as well as destination management. According to the results, Serbia is more competitive in its natural, cultural and historical resources comparing to the role of destination management

Determinants of Tourist Competitiveness in the Case of Montenegro: Experts’ Assessment

Tourism and hospitality management, 2018

Purpose-The competitiveness of tourist destinations is consistently attracting the attention of the scientific community. How can they strengthen their position on the tourist market? This is a very tough question for all tourist destinations. The goal of this research is to determine the critical competitiveness points of Montenegro as a tourist destination based on experts' assessments. Design-The determinants of the competitiveness of tourist destinations have been examined, based on the example of Montenegro. Actual available data about Montenegrin tourist competitiveness, the most significant models of tourist-destination competitiveness, and the applied methodology have been presented. Additionally, the research results are presented, instructions and recommendations are given and the limitations of the research are defined. Methodology-An interview-based method was used for this study, and the gathered data was processed by statistical methods: descriptive statistics; correlation; standard multiple regression; factorial analysis, and ANOVA and T-tests. Approach-A well-known model of tourist-destination competitiveness constructed by the authors Ritchie and Crouch has been used as a basis for this survey. Findings-The results obtained state that the experts' assessments do not deviate from the TCI results for Montenegro, and that the critical point of competitiveness for Montenegro is destination management, while destination planning, development and policy are closely connected to this factor. Originality of research-This is the first time that the competitiveness factors of Montenegro have been assessed in this manner, and there are almost no papers that consider this topic, which makes this study a significant contribution. The paper also represents an excellent basis for future in-depth research, as explained in the recommendations.

Development of a methodology for assessing the tourism sector tourism sector competitiveness at the national level

The aim of this study is to develop and adapt the methodology to assess the tourism industry competitiveness at the national level. International tourism as a source of both direct and indirect incomes of the state, encourages the development of different sectors, not specific to the tourism infrastructure, but through the multiplier effect. In this connection it is urgent to develop new methodological approaches to measure and assess the international competitiveness of countries in order to put countries in a better position in the current competition for tourism revenues. The problem of determining the tourist potential of a particular territory with a view to the most efficient use is a difficult research challenge. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) has been put in the proposed methodology. The sub-indices, components and indicators that form the TTCI index are used as the parameters that characterize national economy. The application of factor analysis to the TTCI dimension components for the competitiveness of the twelve-dimensional space is reduced to two factors: socially-economic and resource-ecological factors. A two-step cluster analysis in the area of these factors allowed to group fifty-five countries selected for analysis in three homogeneous clusters. Countries, formed in clusters, have similarities in competitive advantages, factors and quality indicators of tourist resources and infrastructure. The comparative analysis of these clusters, using TTCI indicators, allows to describe the formation model of competitiveness in the tourism sector and to determine the qualitative position of the country not only among the closest countries in terms of tourism destination development, but also to draw conclusions about the preferred tourist specialization. Keywords: the travel & tourism competitiveness ındex, factor analysis, cluster analysis.

(No) Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of Serbian Tourism

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2012

Transition in Serbia started in 2000 and is still in progress. Achieved reforms in economic development has influenced the change of economic structure in favor of service sector, which has the largest sectoral participation in the creation of gross domestic product. Tourism has an important place within the service sector, and has always represented a great opportunity for development of Serbia. Though, in recent decades tourism development in Serbia has not attached great importance, which resulted in low competitiveness of Serbian tourism in the international market. The aim of this paper is to analyze trends in the tourism of Serbia since 2000, to indicate on the competitive position of Serbian tourism in the world, as well as on the necessity of improving the development of tourism in order to develop on a sustainable basis.

Development of a methodology for assessing the tourism sector competitiveness at the national level

New Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences , 2016

The aim of this study is to develop and adapt the methodology to assess the tourism industry competitiveness at the national level. International tourism as a source of both direct and indirect incomes of the state, encourages the development of different sectors, not specific to the tourism infrastructure, but through the multiplier effect. In this connection it is urgent to develop new methodological approaches to measure and assess the international competitiveness of countries in order to put countries in a better position in the current competition for tourism revenues. The problem of determining the tourist potential of a particular territory with a view to the most efficient use is a difficult research challenge. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) has been put in the proposed methodology. The sub-indices, components and indicators that form the TTCI index are used as the parameters that characterize national economy. The application of factor analysis to the TTCI dimension components for the competitiveness of the twelve-dimensional space is reduced to two factors: socially-economic and resource-ecological factors. A two-step cluster analysis in the area of these factors allowed to group fifty-five countries selected for analysis in three homogeneous clusters. Countries, formed in clusters, have similarities in competitive advantages, factors and quality indicators of tourist resources and infrastructure. The comparative analysis of these clusters, using TTCI indicators, allows to describe the formation model of competitiveness in the tourism sector and to determine the qualitative position of the country not only among the closest countries in terms of tourism destination development, but also to draw conclusions about the preferred tourist specialization.

Diagnosis of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index Methodology on the Example of Poland’s Position on the Tourist Market

Barometr Regionalny, 2018

The purpose of the article is to assess Poland's position on the international tourist market taking a comparative approach, in the light of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF), and also critical analysis of the TTCI methodology used in the years 2009-2016. The countries (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) indicated by the Polish Tourism Organization as the most important competitors were selected for the comparative analysis of Poland's position on the tourist market. The research proved that in the analyzed period the position of Polish tourism against the background of competitors is growing as a result of the significant improvement of the Travel & Tourism regulatory framework and infrastructure. The WEF methodology is not yet perfect due to the selection and number of respondents, whereas the modification of competition factors, consistent with the evolution of theoretical concepts and also keeping up with the progress in business practice, deserves a positive assessment.

Identifying the factors of tourism competitiveness level in the southeastern European countries

Facta Universitatis. Series: Economics and Organization, 2013

The aim of this paper is to identify key factors for competitiveness enhancement and tourism sector development in Southeastern European (SEE) countries. For the purposes of this research, factors (the so-called, pillars and subindexes) of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) have been analyzed by applying proper statistical models (descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis). Considering the fact that there is a high level of correlation between the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) and TTCI, the influence of TTCI factors on GCI in SEE countries has been analyzed within this paper. This research points out the fact that human resources represent significant factor SEE countries should pay more attention to, when building up new strategies and programs of tourism sector development in function of increasing the competitiveness level and the growth of that sector.

Tourism destination competitiveness models

Tourism and Travelling

Nowadays tourism is one of the few branches which creates jobs in the big Bulgarian cities and big tourist centers as in the rural and mountain areas, providing variety of opportunities for over fifty kinds of specialists from different ages. In those frames, the aim of this paper is to unveil, analyze and evaluate the possibilities for enhancing its competitiveness at destination level trough a sustainable planning model. The object of study is the competitiveness of tourism destination Bulgaria according to The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index. We have combined the expert method and the method of observation, applicable for the analysis of competitiveness, as well as the adopted Index methodology. Moreover, together with its comprehension, the paper suggests a model for sustainable planning and development for the surveyed tourism destination.

Central and East European Countries’ Tourism Competitiveness as a Factor of Their National Competitiveness Level

Revista De Turism Studii Si Cercetari in Turism, 2014

The purpose of this research is to analyze the contribution of travel and tourism competitiveness to the global competitiveness level of the Central and East Europe (CEE) countries. The aim is to identify the correlation between the achieved travel and tourism competitiveness level (measured by the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index) and national competitiveness level on the world list (measured by the Global Competitiveness Index) in the CEE countries. Structurally, the paper is composed of the following parts: competitiveness analysis of CEE countries according to the GCI and TTCI, examination of interdependence between the GCI and TTCI, and exploration of the pillar's impact, within the TTCI, on the GCI in CEE countries. Research results indicate that there is a strong correlation between the GCI and TTCI. The results of this study provide possible directions to development policy makers in CEE countries.