Economic Impacts and Implications
Does Tourism Volume Contribute to Economic Prosperity in Small Developing Island States?
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Miguel Puig-Cabrera, Concepción Foronda Robles
Forecasts for the market of global tourism suggest that in the year 2030 emerging destinations will achieve a greater market share than traditional ones. The importance of tourism in these countries becomes for this sector an opportunity for economic development and prosperity, as it is included in the strategies for achieving the major global goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030). According to recent UNWTO workpapers, small developing island states become a focus of attention, since tourism turns into one of their main sources of wealth. However, this activity continues to be controversial with respect to the socioeconomic benefits it brings to the population. The main objective of this work is to contrast the capacity of the tourism phenomenon to become a driver of economic prosperity in small developing island states, analysing both its direct and indirect effects on living conditions of the population. To do this, a series of panel data models have been estimated from a database composed of 11 small developing island states worldwide during the last decade. The results suggest that as tourism volume increases in these islands, living conditions of the population are gradually enhanced. Furthermore, tourism has a relevant “multiplier” effect on the economy of small developing island states. Some recommendations to competent authorities are indicated in order to analyse the real potential of their current tourism development models for economic prosperity.
Understanding Sharing Economy and the Generation Effect: Platform Economy and the Tourism Ecosystem
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Tatiana David Negre, Juan M. Hernández, Sergio Moreno-gil, Arminda Almeida Santana
The sharing economy has emerged as an alternative of suppliers of goods and services traditionally provided by long-established industries and driven by the development and proliferation of platforms. Since its inception, the tourism industry has presented itself as one of the sectors that has allowed it to grow more and in which the sharing economy has had a greater impact. Thus, the objective of this work is twofold. In the first place, it explains the platform economy and the role played by the sharing economy in this network of platforms that tries to dominate the tourist market. Second, it analyzes the differences in the use of the platform economy, between the generation Y, X, Baby Boomers and the total number of tourists and how these networks differ between generations. Finally, the implications for the future of the platform economy in the tourism industry are discussed. Applying the methodology of Social Network Analysis (SNA), with 13,243 tourists from 19 European countries, the study provides interesting recommendations for destinations with a view to better designing marketing activities across different European countries.
