<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In recent years, governments of developing countries have been much more active in destination management and development than they used to be in the past. However, the challenge many governments face is to determine an appropriate level of involvement. This study investigates the role government plays in tourism competitiveness by applying a panel data analysis to the Central American region. The results reveal that government plays an important role in tourism. The data provide evidence that a new theory may emerge as it pertains to tourism and developing countries. Furthermore, such discovery only reinforces the issue of free riders tourism faces and the role of ‘shadow’ economy in the Central American region.</p></abstract>

In recent years, governments of developing countries have been much more active in destination management and development than they used to be in the past. However, the challenge many governments face is to determine an appropriate level of involvement. This study investigates the role government plays in tourism competitiveness by applying a panel data analysis to the Central American region. The results reveal that government plays an important role in tourism. The data provide evidence that a new theory may emerge as it pertains to tourism and developing countries. Furthermore, such discovery only reinforces the issue of free riders tourism faces and the role of ‘shadow’ economy in the Central American region.

The Role of Government in Tourism: Linking Competitiveness, Freedom, and Developing Economies

College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

Czech Journal of Tourism

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

In recent years, governments of developing countries have been much more active in destination management and development than they used to be in the past....

The Role of Government in Tourism: Linking Competitiveness, Freedom, and Developing Economies

Published Online: Jan 24, 2018

Page range: 73 - 92

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjot-2016-0005

Keywords
Competitiveness, government, economic freedom, developing economies

© 2016 Marketa Kubickova, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Role of Government in Tourism: Linking Competitiveness, Freedom, and Developing Economies

Published Online: Jan 24, 2018

Page range: 73 - 92

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjot-2016-0005

KeywordsCompetitiveness, government, economic freedom, developing economies

© 2016 Marketa Kubickova, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Competitiveness, government, economic freedom, developing economies