Title: Determinants of profitability and the decision-making process of firms in the tourism sector: the case of Greece

Authors: George M. Agiomirgianakis; Anastasios I. Magoutas; George Sfakianakis

Addresses: Hellenic Open University, 57-59 Bouboulinas Str., Patras, 26222, Greece ' Hellenic Open University, 57-59 Bouboulinas Str., Patras, 26222, Greece ' Hellenic Ministry of Finance, 5-7 Nikis Str., Athens, 10180, Greece; Technological Educational Institute of Chalkis, Psachna, Evia 34400, Greece; Hellenic Open University, 57-59 Mpoumpoulinas Str., Patras, 26222, Greece

Abstract: This paper aims at investigating the determinants of profitability in the tourism sector of Greece. As tourism is one of the main industries in Greece, with a share in total economic activity varying from 15% to 20% of GDP (whether measured directly or indirectly respectively), both the theoretical and practical implications of pinpointing the determinants of profitability are significant: first, at the microeconomic level, these determinants are interwoven with the decision-making process of firms; and secondly, at the macroeconomic level, these determinants should be taken into account when policy makers try to formulate appropriate policies that could support or stimulate investment activity in the tourism sector.

Keywords: tourism; decision making; policy making; profitability; panel data; Greece; investment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDSRM.2012.053381

International Journal of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.294 - 299

Received: 07 Mar 2013
Accepted: 11 Mar 2013

Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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