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on Tourism Economics |
| By: | ITO Tadashi; IWAHASHI Roki |
| Abstract: | Departing from the conventional theoretical approach, which explains tourism demand by various kinds of determinants, this paper proposes a model in which the dynamics of the number of tourists is explained by probabilistic behaviors. More specifically, the model assumes two different probabilities—one for first-time travelers and the other for frequent travelers. Based on this theoretical framework, the paper empirically examines the dynamics of the number of tourists to Okinawa, Japan. We find that income and transport costs explain the probability of first-time visitors, but that they do not explain for that of repeat visitors. Instead, the congestion index, which reflects the busy lifestyle in large cities, does so. This suggests that tourism policy should differ depending on how well-established the location is as a tourist destination. Given that Okinawa is acknowledged as the foremost resort destination among the Japanese, the priority for the resources allocation of tourism promotion should be on the preservation of the natural environment and the original culture, thereby offering unusual experiences to the visitors. |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:13058&r=tur |
| By: | Cirer-Costa, Joan Carles |
| Abstract: | A really large tourist destination, such as the Balearic Islands cannot be defined as a single geographic space without regional differentiation; it spans several islands within each of which are a multiplicity of coastal areas with very varied geographical morphology and differing degrees of exploitation for tourism. We aim to conduct a statistical analysis of the standard features of such coastal areas to determine the geographic base common to the entire Balearic archipelago as a mass tourist destination. Our analysis is based on the different theoretical concepts of a destination as they appear in tourist literature: A geographically defined area, a group consumption brand name, a location defined by a concrete offer, and so on, and the industrial district concept as initially proposed by Marshall and later developed by authors, such as Krugman and Becattini. We set out to conduct a fundamentally quantitative analysis for which purpose we established a database containing 41 categories of geographical, commercial and business data for each of the 82 Balearic tourist areas. This information is integrated into a statistically homogenous set of values that enables the application of the Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) statistical method. The results obtained show that the islands of Menorca and Formentera constitute minor products in clear contrast with the major destinations of Mallorca and Ibiza. The latter two have developed a model composed of a pattern of large areas that are virtually indistinguishable from each other. Each zone can accommodate almost every kind of tourist wishing to visit the Balearic Islands, regardless of nationality, family status or economic level. A final result indicates that the large local hoteliers have developed a very special trading model: Targeting a specific niche of tourist demand while offering a wide geographical distribution of their establishments. |
| Keywords: | Mass tourism, Balearic Islands, hotels, tourism cluster, industrial district. |
| JEL: | L83 R12 R14 |
| Date: | 2013–06–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47701&r=tur |