Title: Analysis of European tourism demand for Tunisia: a new approach

Authors: Chokri Ouerfelli

Addresses: Department of Quantitative Methods, and Computer Sciences, Higher Institute of Management (ISG), University of Sousse, 4002 Sousse, Tunisia

Abstract: This study aimed to analyse the European tourism demand in Tunisia using dynamic panel data models. The dynamic structure of preferences is used to consider taste changes as endogenous by including lagged consumption in the model. It also measures the degree of loyalty towards Tunisian tourism services. The highlight of this study is to capture and explain the substantial heterogeneity among the origin countries. The empirical results show that almost 50% of the increase in European arrivals is due to tourist loyalty. The estimated values of the short-run and long-run elasticities reveal interesting aspects about the tourism sector and European tourist behaviours.

Keywords: tourism demand; dynamic panel data models; elasticity; cross-section effect; supply-induced demand; tourism policy; Tunisia; European tourists; taste changes; lagged consumption; tourist loyalty; tourist behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2010.037994

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2010 Vol.3 No.3, pp.223 - 236

Published online: 07 Jan 2011 *

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