How can tourist destinations become more competitive: What key tools can be used to achieve this aim?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the question: What have we learned about how tourist destinations may become more competitive and the tools to achieve this aim?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers the contribution made by each theme issue article to an overall understanding of tourism destinations' competitiveness and how this can be achieved and improved by using a series of strategic and operational tools.

Findings

The paper presents examples of key tools for improving destinations' competitiveness, how they were applied in industry contexts and recommendations for future use.

Practical implications

The paper summarizes the strategies and actions undertaken by organizations and destinations to improve competitiveness and comments on the practical implications.

Originality/value

The paper takes further the ideas put forward in the editorial and provides a concise analysis of how companies and destinations may improve their competitiveness by taken a sustainable and holistic approach to tourism development.

Citation

Costa, J., Salazar, A., Montenegro, M. and Gomes, J. (2010), "How can tourist destinations become more competitive: What key tools can be used to achieve this aim?", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 455-457. https://doi.org/10.1108/17554211011074092