A DEA Travel-Tourism Competitiveness Index

Travel and tourism competitiveness has been paramount in the research agenda for transport, tourism and economics over the last decades because a larger number of destinations and businesses have entered into the international tourism market. Different approaches have been postulated to measuring, modeling and managing competitiveness in tourism. The present study aims to create a composite index of the travel and tourism competitiveness to rank 139 countries worldwide. Our sample is based on some of the data collected in "The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011", and the method is based on the virtual efficiency DEA model. An analysis of the competitiveness by geographical area and income is also analyzed. Finally some policy implications are discussed.