Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20867/thm.31.1.1
Measuring the efficiency and productivity of Mediterranean tourism: A window dea analysis
Andrea Arbula Blecich
orcid.org/0000-0002-1379-6410
; PhD, Associate professor University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business
Nikolina Dukić Samaržija
; PhD, Associate professor, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business
*
Klara Justinić
; MSc, student University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Purpose – Tourism is an important economic sector in the EU with particular significance for
the Mediterranean countries. The aim of the study is to analyze the efficiency and productivity
of Mediterranean countries in order to gain an insight into the causes of inefficiency and
changes in productivity.
Methodology/Design/Approach – The method used is Window Data Envelopment Analysis
and Malmquist Productivity Index on the basis of data collected for the period from 2014
to 2021. Technical efficiency (TE) is calculated as well as its main components, the pure
technical efficiency (PTE) and the scale efficiency (SE). Productivity is broken down to
technical and technological change and its main components.
Findings – Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, PTE, which is influenced by management,
technology and external factors, experiences a sharp decline. However, the decomposition of
TE (overall efficiency) revealed that prior to the pandemic, the primary source of inefficiency
was the inability of the Mediterranean tourism sectors to operate at optimal scale. Productivity
fell in all countries between 2019 and 2020, mainly due to a technological decline.
Originality of the research – This paper analyses two distinct samples. The initial sample
comprises the EU member states, whereas the second sample comprises the Mediterranean
countries within the EU.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
322035
URI
Publication date:
5.11.2024.
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