Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Destination Competitiveness and Its Implications for Host-Community QOL

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of Tourism and Quality-of-Life Research

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

Abstract

With few exceptions, host communities welcome tourism and tourists. Indeed, most communities actively encourage visitors and promote their destination. Although negative potential impacts are often recognized, tourism, overall, is seen to be “good” for the community because of the economic, social, and cultural benefits that it may contribute and the leisure amenities that tourism may help to fund and provide. If the benefits and impacts are to be optimized, there needs to be some form of structured management effort which enables the identification of resident quality-of-life goals and visitor quality-of-life experience goals. Thus, a process must be put in place to ensure that these policy objectives are translated into reality. The capability of the destination to succeed in this endeavor will determine its competitiveness. Destination competitiveness is not necessarily about attracting more tourists or tourist spending. Rather, it concerns the degree to which the destination is capable of using the resources and skills available to successfully achieve its QOL goals while simultaneously delivering high quality memorable experiences to visitors. In an increasingly competitive global tourism industry, the improvement of competitive capability is vital if tourism destinations are to contribute to the host community’s quality-of-life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahmed, Z. U., & Krohn, F. B. (1990). Reversing the United States’ declining competitiveness in the marketing of international tourism: A perspective on future policy. Journal of Travel Research, 29(2), 23–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, L. R., Long, P. T., Perdue, R. R., & Kieselbach, S. (1988). The impact of tourism development on residents’ perceptions of community life. Journal of Travel Research, 27(1), 16–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, L. R., Hafer, H. R., Long, P. T., & Perdue, R. R. (1993). Rural residents’ attitudes toward recreation and tourism development. Journal of Travel Research, 31(1), 27–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andereck, K. L., & Nyaupane G. P. (2011). Exploring the nature of tourism and quality of perceptions among residents. Journal of Travel Research, 50(3), 248–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andereck, K. L., Valentine, K. M., Vogt, C. A., & Knopf, R. C. (2007). A cross-cultural analysis of tourism and quality of life perceptions. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15(5), 483–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ap, J. (1992). Resident perceptions on tourism impacts. Annals of Tourism Research, 19(4), 665–690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ap, J., & Crompton, J. L. (1993). Resident strategies for responding to tourism impacts. Journal of Travel Research, 32(1), 47–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M., Hayzelden, C., & Sussmann, S. (1996). Can destination management systems provide competitive advantage? A discussion of the factors affecting the survival and success of destination management systems. Progress in Tourism and Hospitality Research, 2, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botha, C., Crompton, J. L., & Kim, S.-S. (1999). Developing a revised competitive position for Sun/Lost city, South Africa. Journal of Travel Research, 37(4), 341–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buhalis, D. (2000). Marketing the competitive destination of the future. Tourism Management, 21(1), 97–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carmichael, B. (2002). Global competitiveness and special events in cultural tourism: The example of the Barnes exhibit at the art gallery of Ontario, Toronto. The Canadian Geographer, 46(4), 310–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chacko, H. E. (1998), Positioning a tourism destination to gain a competitive edge. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. [On-line], http://www.hotel-online.com/Neo/Trends/AsiaPacificJournal/PositionDestination.html

  • Chon, K. S., & Mayer, K. J. (1995). Destination competitiveness models in tourism and their application to Las Vegas. Journal of Tourism Systems and Quality Management, 1(2/3/4), 227–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson, M. B. (1998). The corporation and its stakeholders: Classic & contemporary readings. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, G. I. (2007). Measuring tourism competitiveness: research, theory and the WEF index. 2007 Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy, Dunedin (University of Otago), New Zealand, December 3–5, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, G. I. (2011). Destination competitiveness: An analysis of determinant attributes. Journal of Travel Research, 50(1), 27–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, G. I., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (1994). Destination competitiveness: Exploring foundations for a long-term research program. In Proceedings of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada 1994 Annual Conference (pp. 79–88), June 25–28, Halifax.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, G. I., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (1995). Destination competitiveness and the role of the tourism enterprise. In Proceedings of the Fourth Annual World Business Congress (pp. 43–48), July 13–16, Istanbul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, G. I., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (1999). Tourism, competitiveness and societal prosperity. Journal of Business Research, 44(3), 137–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Hauteserre, A.-M. (2000). Lessons in managed destination competitiveness: The case of Foxwoods casino resort. Tourism Management, 21(1), 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deardorff, A. V. (1985). Comparative advantage and international trade and investment in services. In R. M. Stern (Ed.), Trade and investment in services: Canada/US perspectives (pp. 39–82). Toronto: Ontario Economic Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia. (2004). Triple-bottom line report 2003–2004: Our environmental: Social and economic performance. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Suh, C. (1997). Measuring quality of life: Economic, social, and subjective indicators. Social Indicators Research, 40(1/2), 189–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, Ed (2006). Guidelines for national indicators of subjective well-being and Ill-Being. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1, 151–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dissart, J. C., & Deller, S. C. (2000). Quality of life in the planning literature. Journal of Planning Literature, 15(1), 135–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., & Kim, C. (2003). Destination competitiveness: Determinants and indicators. Current Issues in Tourism, 6(5), 369–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., Forsyth, P., & Rao, P. (2000a). Price competitiveness of tourism packages to Australia: Beyond the ‘Big Mac’ index. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 5(2), 50–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., Forsyth, P., & Rao, P. (2000b). Sectoral analysis of destination price competitiveness: An international comparison. Tourism Analysis, 5(1), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., Forsyth, P., & Rao, P. (2000c). The price competitiveness of travel and tourism: A comparison of 19 destinations. Tourism Management, 21(1), 9–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., Forsyth, P., & Rao, P. (2001). International price competitiveness of Australia’s MICE industry. International Journal of Tourism Research, 3(2), 123–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., Forsyth, P., & Rao, P. (2002). Destination price competitiveness: Exchange rate changes versus domestic inflation. Journal of Travel Research, 40(February), 328–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., Livaic, Z., & Mellor, R. (2003). Competitiveness of Australia as a tourist destination. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 10(1), 60–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, L., Mellor, R., Livaic, Z., Edwards, D., & Kim, C. (2004). Attributes of destination competitiveness: A factor analysis. Tourism Analysis, 9(1–2), 91–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enright, M. J., & Newton, J. (2004). Tourism destination competitiveness: A quantitative approach. Tourism Management, 25(6), 777–788.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enright, M. J., & Newton, J. (2005). Determinants of tourism destination competitiveness in Asia Pacific: Comprehensiveness and universality. Journal of Travel Research, 43(4), 339–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner, B., Oppermann, M., & Fredline, E. (1999). Destination competitiveness: An exploratory examination of South Australia’s core attractions. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 5(2), 125–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feketekuty, G. (1988). International trade in services: An overview and blueprint for negotiations. Cambridge: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Ballinger Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Field, J. (2008). Social capital. Milton Park/New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Boston: Pitman Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Go, F. M., & Govers, R. (2000). Integrated quality management for tourist destinations: A European perspective on achieving competitiveness. Tourism Management, 21(1), 79–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, H. P. (1989). Services and comparative advantage theory. In H. Giersch (Ed.), Services in world economic growth (pp. 65–103). Tübingen: Institut fur Weltwirtschaft an der Universitat Kiel, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrill, R. (2004). Residents’ attitude toward tourism development: A literature review with implications for tourism planning. Journal of Planning Literature, 18(3), 251–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, S. S. (2000). Determinants of market competitiveness in an environmentally sustainable tourism industry. Journal of Travel Research, 38(3), 239–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heath, E. (2002). Towards a model to enhance destination competitiveness: A Southern African perspective. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 10(2), 124–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, H., Jon, L., & Flynn, P. (2000). Calvert-Henderson quality of life indicators: A new tool for assessing national trends. Bethesda, MD: Calvert Group Ltd. [www.Calvert-Henderson.com].

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, S., Ritchie, J. R. B., & Timur, S. (2004). Measuring destination competitiveness: An empirical study of Canadian ski resorts. Tourism Hospitality Planning and Development, 1(1), 79–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, S. D. (2000). A general theory of competition. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huybers, T., & Bennett, J. (2003). Environmental management and the competitiveness of nature-based tourism destinations. Environmental and Resource Economics, 24, 213–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IMD. (2009). IMD 2009 world competitiveness yearbook, Lausanne, Switzerland. (http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/index.cfm)

  • Jamal, T., & Getz, D. (1996). Does strategic planning pay? Lessons for destinations from corporate planning experience. Progress in Tourism and Hospitality Research, 2, 59–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings, G., & Nickerson, N. P. (2006). Quality tourism experiences. Burlington: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J. D., Snepenger, D. J., & Akis, S. (1994). Residents’ perceptions of tourism development. Annals of Tourism Research, 21, 629–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jurowski, C., Uysal, M., & Williams, D. R. (1997). A theoretical analysis of host community resident reactions to tourism. Journal of Travel Research, 36(2), 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnitis, E. (2006). Increasing quality of life as the goal for development of Latvia. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1, 125–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, C., & Dwyer, L. (2003). Destination competitiveness and bilateral flows between Australia and Korea. Journal of Tourism Studies, 14(2), 54–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, B., Pizam, A., & Milman, A. (1993). Social impacts of tourism: Host perceptions. Annals of Tourism Research, 20(4), 650–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp, D., & Sherwin, G. (2005). Destination brand science. Washington, DC: IACVB, Destination Marketing Association International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozak, M. (2003). Measuring competitive destination performance: A study of Spain and Turkey. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 13(3), 83–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, K. M., & Auld, C. J. (2002). The role of leisure in determining quality of life: Issues of content and measurement. Social Indicators Research, 57, 43–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, P., & Cheyne, J. (2000). Residents’ attitudes to proposed tourism development. Annals of Tourism Research, 27(2), 391–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massam, B. H. (2002). Quality of life: Public planning and private living. Progress in Planning, 58, 141–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazanec, J. A. (1995). Competition among European tourist cities: A comparative analysis with multidimensional scaling and self-organizing maps. Tourism Economics, 1(3), 283–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mihalic, T. (2000). Environmental management of a tourist destination: A factor of tourism competitiveness. Tourism Management, 21(1), 65–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, R. K., Agle, B. R., & Wood, D. J. (1997). Toward a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: Defining the principle of who and what really counts. The Academy of Management Executive, 22(4), 853–886.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papatheodorou, A. (2002). Exploring competitiveness in Mediterranean resorts. Tourism Economics, 8(2), 133–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, D. G. (1997). Competitive destination analysis in Southeast Asia. Journal of Travel Research, 35(4), 16–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perdue, R. R., Long, P. T., & Allen, L. R. (1987). Rural resident tourism perceptions and attitudes. Annals of Tourism Research, 14(3), 420–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perdue, R. R., Long, P. T., & Allen, L. R. (1990). Resident support for tourism development. Annals of Tourism Research, 17(4), 586–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E. (1980). Competitive strategy: Techniques for analysing industry and competitors. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive advantage: Creating and sustaining superior performance. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E. (1990). The competitive advantage of nations. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricardo, D. (1817). On the principles of political economy and taxation (3rd ed., 1821). London: John Murray.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, J. B. (1987). A sub-sectoral approach to services’ trade theory. In O. Giarini (Ed.), The emerging service economy (pp. 59–82). Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riddle, D. I. (1986). Service-led growth: The role of the service sector in world development. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. R. B. (1993). Crafting a destination vision: Putting the concept of resident-responsive tourism into practice. Tourism Management, 14(5), 379–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. R. B., & Crouch, G. I. (2000a). The competitive destination: A sustainability perspective. Tourism Management, 21(1), 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. R. B., & Crouch, G. I. (2000b). Are destination stars born or made: Must a competitive destination have star genes? In N. P. Nickerson, R. N. Moisey, & K. L. Andereck (Eds.), Proceedings of the 31st Annual Travel and Tourism Research Association Conference (pp. 306–315), June 11–14, 2000, Burbank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. R. B., & Crouch, G. I. (2003). The competitive destination: A sustainable tourism perspective. Wallingford: CABI Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rokeach, M. (1968). Beliefs, attitudes, and values: A theory of organization and change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rokeach, M. (1973). The nature of human values. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, L. R., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (2005). Destination stakeholders: Exploring identity and salience. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(3), 711–734.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. (1776). An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations (5th ed., 1904). London: Methuen and Co. Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soteriou, E. C., & Roberts, C. (1998). The strategic planning process in national tourism organizations. Journal of Travel Research, 37(1), 21–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spiers, A., & Walker, G. J. (2008). The effects of ethnicity and leisure satisfaction on happiness, peacefulness, and quality of life. Leisure Sciences, 31(1), 84–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, B. F. (1992). Price value perceptions of travelers. Journal of Travel Research, 31(2), 41–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, P. (1995). Measuring changes in the relative competitiveness of package tour destinations. Tourism Economics, 1(2), 169–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tourism Council Australia. (1998). The price competitiveness of Australia as a tourist destination. unpublished report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tosun, C. (2002). Host perceptions of impacts: A comparative tourism study. Annals of Tourism Research, 29(1), 231–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDP. (2007). Human development report 2007/2008, Technical Note 1: Calculating the human development indices (pp. 355–361). New York: United Nations Development Programme. Accessed on-line: http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/

  • Vengesayi, S. (2005). Determinants and outcomes of tourism destination competitiveness and destination attractiveness, Ph.D. dissertation, Monash University.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Economic Forum. (2007a). The travel & tourism competitiveness report 2007, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/TravelandTourismReport/index.htm, Accessed March 15, 2007.

  • World Economic Forum. (2007b). The world economic forum’s first ever travel & tourism competitiveness report. Geneva, Switzerland, (press release available from http://www.Weforum.org/en/media/Latest%20Press%20Releases/Tourismpressrelease, Accessed March 15, 2007).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Faculty of Law and Management, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, 3108, Australia

    Geoffrey I. Crouch

  2. Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    J. R. Brent Ritchie

Authors
  1. Geoffrey I. Crouch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. R. Brent Ritchie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Geoffrey I. Crouch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. State University, Dept. Hospitality & Tourism Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute &, Blacksburg, 24061, Virgin Islands, USA

    Muzaffer Uysal

  2. State University, Dept. Hospitality & Tourism Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute &, Blacksburg, 24061, Virgin Islands, USA

    Richard Perdue

  3. Pamlin College of Business, Dept. Marketing, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Pamplin Hall 2025, Blacksburg, 24061-0236, Virgin Islands, USA

    M. Joseph Sirgy

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Crouch, G.I., Ritchie, J.R.B. (2012). Destination Competitiveness and Its Implications for Host-Community QOL. In: Uysal, M., Perdue, R., Sirgy, M. (eds) Handbook of Tourism and Quality-of-Life Research. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2288-0_29

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation