Regional Ratings for Assessing the Level of Tourism Growth

Abstract

The authors of the paper assume that assessment of the regional tourism potential requires a comprehensive study along several lines as well as with different approaches to ranking (assigning rating). Following this logics the goal of the study is formulated as a comprehensive assessment of the regional tourism potential and ranking the regions under 13 tourist zones of Russia after official statistics. Ranking was based on 3 indices: the efficiency index, the tourism growth index and the regional tourism competitiveness index. The methodology included grouping several indices according to statistical methods (DEA, normalization) and expert assessment. The aggregate rating for 2016 and 2017 was also provided. The methodology for the aggregate rating covered the study year; indices of tourist zones were ranked in an ascending order according to scores from 1 to 13. The study has identified tourist zones with high and low levels of growth, and has also revealed Russia’s overall tourism growth since 2014. Top three tourist zones, the Caucasus, the Azov-Black Sea and the Central one were set according to tourism growth in 2016; in 2017 they were the Urals, the Central and the Far Eastern zone. The results of the study are applicable in forming a regional strategy for tourism development

Keywords

• tourism
• tourist zones
• tourism industry
• regional index
• tourism growth index
• tourist attractiveness of the region
• dea
• rating
• ranking