nep-tur New Economics Papers
on Tourism Economics
Issue of 2011‒01‒30
three papers chosen by
Antonello Scorcu
University of Bologna

  1. Is the concept of sustainable tourism sustainable? Developing the Sustainable Tourism Benchmarking Tool By Lucian Cernat; Julien Gourdon
  2. Methods of analysis of local tourist systems By AMODIO, Teresa
  3. What Determines The World Heritage List? An Econometric Analysis By Bruno S. Frey; Paolo Pamini; Lasse Steiner

  1. By: Lucian Cernat (CERDI - Centre d'études et de recherches sur le developpement international - CNRS : UMR6587 - Université d'Auvergne - Clermont-Ferrand I); Julien Gourdon (CERDI - Centre d'études et de recherches sur le developpement international - CNRS : UMR6587 - Université d'Auvergne - Clermont-Ferrand I)
    Abstract: Given the complexity of the issues surrounding the concept of sustainable tourism, the current paper tries to provide a unified methodology to assess tourism sustainability, based on a number of quantitative indicators. The proposed methodological framework (Sustainable Tourism Benchmarking Tool – STBT) will provide a number of benchmarks against which the sustainability of tourism activities in various countries can be assessed. A model development procedure is proposed: identification of the dimensions (economic, socio-ecologic, infrastructure) and indicators, method of scaling, chart representation and evaluation on three Asian countries. This application to three countries show us that a similar level of tourism activity might induce different sort of improvements to implement in the tourism activity and might have different consequences for the socio-ecological environment. The heterogeneity of developing countries exposed in the STBT is useful to detect the main problem of each country in their tourism activity.
    Keywords: cerdi
    Date: 2011–01–18
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00557121&r=tur
  2. By: AMODIO, Teresa (CELPE (Centre of Labour Economics and Economic Policy), University of Salerno, Italy)
    Abstract: The phenomenon of tourism, due to the variables involved and their instability, is a highly complex and dynamic sector. Faced with an increasingly competitive market, characterized by political, economic and social megatrends which affect local performance, the role of the setting becomes significant. In fact, territorial properties, through tangible and intangible elements, can trigger the development process or,conversely, affect the evolution when the local context does not allow for growth conditions and management of competition. The variety of configurations, structures and phenomena within the territory make it a highly structured knowledge process, with the enhancing and upgrading of the local characteristics. However, one of the main problems is that legislation does not clarify the operational aspect of a definite boundary between Local Touristic System within the territorial context, deferring the need to identify approaches to the districts themselves. The choice of variables to investigate and the systemic reading that they should be given, determine the responsibility of creating a functional knowledge framework to the adoption of decision trajectories in line with territorial inclinations. The proposal that has inspired and supported the research presented in this paper can also be included within this context, with scientific applications and knowledge requirements needed by policy makers engaged in the drawing up and implementation of local development policies
    Keywords: tourism; local systems; methodology of analysis; districts.
    JEL: R11
    Date: 2011–01–18
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sal:celpdp:0114&r=tur
  3. By: Bruno S. Frey; Paolo Pamini; Lasse Steiner
    Abstract: The official intention of the UNESCO World Heritage List is to protect the global heritage. However, the existing List is highly imbalanced according to countries and continents. Historical reasons, such as historical GDP, population, and number of years of high civilization, have a significant impact on being included on the List. In addition, economic and political factors unrelated to the value of heritage, such as rent seeking by bureaucrats and politicians, the size of the tourist sector, the importance of media, the degree of federalism, and membership in the UN Security Council, influence the composition of the List.
    Keywords: global public goods; world heritage; international organizations; international political economy; culture
    JEL: Z11 F5 H87
    Date: 2011–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cra:wpaper:2011-01&r=tur

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