Business Performance and Sustainability in Cultural and Rural Tourism Destinations

Abstract

This study analyzes business performance through efficiency score estimation in two sustainable tourism models: cultural tourism and rural tourism. The study uses microeconomic data (microdata) of Spanish firms with different characteristics in terms of size, region, location and financial variables. Using multistage modeling (Data envelopment analysis, DEA, non-parametric frontier and non-parametric tests), the main results show that the average efficiency is higher for rural tourism destinations than for cultural tourism destinations. Similar to other tourism industries, efficiency results by geographical and regional destination confirm that location is a driver of the efficiency levels in rural and cultural tourism destinations. Furthermore, the results do not support the scale economies hypothesis: the average efficiency is higher for very small firms compared to other firm sizes, although the average efficiency for large firms is higher than that for medium-size firms. Regarding dynamic efficiency, the results reveal slight variations among the years examined, but the differences are not statistically significant. Finally, the study sheds light on the link between the efficiency of rural tourism and sustainable practices as the investment in environmental protection developed by regions during the period.

Application of Mathematical Models to Assess the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Logistics Businesses and Recovery Solutions for Sustainable Development

“…The statistics on IN 1 of LO 7 in the period 2017-2020 were used to build the original value chain as follows: X (0) = (1, 421, 715, 1, 625, 789, 1, 947, 165, 2,346,510) The authors use the cumulative addition method to build the value chain of X (1) : 421,715,3,047,504,4,994,669,7,341,179) The authors use the value chain of X (1) to calculate the mean Z (1) : With the coefficients a, b, the authors built the equation of the GM (1, 1) model:…”

“…Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a linear programming method for measuring the performance of multiple industry players (DMUs) when a production process presents a structure of multiple inputs and multiple outputs. DEA has been widely applied by many scientists in many different scientific disciplines [5][6][7][8]. Chowdhury et al, (2011) used the Malmquist productivity index to evaluate the performance of hospitals in Ontario between 2003-2006 [9].…”

Impact of Information Sources on Promoting Tourism in a Rural Region: The Case of the Roman Villa of Noheda

“…Furthermore, any type of tourism in rural areas where culture is used as a tourism resource can generate a cultural exchange between residents and visitors in such a way that it stimulates the conservation and recovery of local traditions [28]. This type of cultural tourism is an approach to local culture and offers an activity very different from mass tourism [3]. Due to its complexity, the concept of cultural tourism has given rise to numerous definitions and perspectives.…”

“…In the case of Spain, as in many other countries, domestic tourists have also changed the way they seek out new forms of weekend leisure that is far from the big cities but close to where they live [2]. For example, rural tourism and cultural tourism offer an alternative to the sun-and-sand destination model, which could positively affect the regional and sustainable development of many towns and municipalities in unpopulated areas [3]. This has benefited rural areas, where rural tourism is becoming more valued and can represent new opportunities for economic development.…”

“…It is thus worth attempting to promote cultural tourism, with a focus on archaeological heritage, as an asset that generates wealth in a region and thus contributes to the socio-economic development of the area. Additionally, this type of 2 of 23 cultural tourism positively influences historical and artistic sites, helping to protect the cultural heritage and enhance the sustainable development of many regions [3]. This approach has already been effectively applied in other places, such as China [4].…”