Classification of Countries of Destination by Gross and Relative Values of International (Inbound) Tourism and its Factors

Abstract

The present work is aimed at the analysis of gross and relative values of inbound tourism by countries of destination for the purpose of their classification. As a result of confronting total and specific (per 1 km of conventional radius of the country’s territory) numbers of international tourist arrivals with the median values for 100 countries of the world as of 2016, countries of destination were divided into four classes. Small countries of intensive inbound tourism are predominantly represented by tropical islands of the Caribbean Basin and Indian Ocean, as well as by the Mediterranean region. Over half of big countries of intensive inbound tourism are located in Europe and the Mediterranean destinations were the most often visited ones. Big countries of extensive inbound tourism show significant volume of inbound tourism in the first place due to their significant territories. Among these, there were Scandinavian destinations of Europe, Canada and Russia. The low intensity of their inbound tourism is explained by the unfavourable climate for human thermal-physiological sensations. Small countries of not-intensive inbound tourism had considerably less volume and intensity of tourism arrivals due to their small territories, unfavourable geographical conditions, but, what is most essential, also due to the poverty. In addition, cost indicator, that is receipts from inbound tourism per one arrival, was taken into account in the analysis. The factors that have influence over it were also disclosed.