Determinants of the Competitive Advantage of Residential Tourism Destinations in Spain

• Published in: Tourism economics : the business and finance of tourism and recreation Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 373 - 403
• Main Authors: Ribes, José Francisco Perles, Rodríguez, Ana Ramón, Jiménez, Martín Sevilla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.04.2011; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Coastal plains; Coasts; Competition; Competitive advantage; Economic models; Economic theory; Geography; Leisure economics; Spain; Studies; Tourism; Spain; structural equations; factor analysis; tourism competitiveness; competitive advantage theory; residential tourism
• ISSN: 1354-8166; 2044-0375
• DOI: 10.5367/te.2011.0040

This paper focuses on an analysis of the tourism competitiveness of residential destinations on the Spanish coast, applying Porter's competitive advantage theory. This analysis is conducted with a hypothesis test using a structural equation model based on Porter's competitive diamond. The paper shows that by analysing a range of variables, it is possible to develop attributes related to competitiveness which constitute Porter's diamond model, confirming that this theory is appropriate for explaining the tourism development processes in residential tourism destinations on the Spanish coast. The results show how the competitive difference between destinations in such a specific geographical area is based mainly on small details belonging to the advanced factors of the competitive advantage theory. Finally, there is cause for concern in the fact that the supporting and related sectors determinant has a negative influence on competitiveness.