Determination of tourism activities of the world’s best tourism destinations using the multi-criteria decision-making method

Abstract

In this study, the tourism performance of the 15 countries that are the most popular global tourist destinations are analyzed using the TOPSIS method. Four factors are employed to measure the tourism activities in these countries: international tourism expenditures, international tourism receipts, number of international tourism arrivals and number of international tourism departures. The TOPSIS method is applied to combine the four factors and convert them into a single performance score. The countries are then ranked and rated. Tourism activities are used to grade the countries’ performance scores. In this way, the valuation of tourism activities in the 15 countries is determined for the 6 years between 2009 and 2014. The results are compared with the results of international tourism organizations.

Keywords:

• tourism industry
• tourism activities
• TOPSIS method

Public Interest Statement

Today’s tourism sector has high competition like other sectors. Incomes from the tourism sector contributes to the economic size of the countries with tourism potential. Countries are graded to describe the situation of World tourism in some reports and outlook. As a result of this rating and ranking, the countries are ranked from the best to the worst as according to the tourism activity status. In this study, the countries are ranked according to the status of tourism activity using the TOPSIS method of multi criteria decision making methods. With the results of such alternative models being used, a more sound evaluation can be made by comparing the annual results of the institutions that are rating the tourism activities of the countries on annual basis and in reports.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mehmet Oğuzhan Ilban

Mehmet Oğuzhan Ilban received his Master’s Degree (2002) in Tourism Management and he obtained a PhD Degree (2007) from the University of Balikesir in Turkey. Currently, Mr Mehmet Oguzhan Ilban is an associate professor in the High School of Applied Sciences at the University of Balikesir. Mr Ilban has extensive experience in the tourism and hotel industry. His main research interests include tourism education, tourism marketing and hotel management.