Determinants of tourism destination competitiveness in the countries most visited by international tourists: Proposal of a synthetic index

Tourism destination competitiveness is a multidimensional concept that is widely studied in the academic literature, but multiple factors make its measurement a difficult task. In this article, we design a synthetic index to rank the 80 countries that attract the majority of international tourists by level of tourism competitiveness. In order to do this, we use all of the simple variables included in the 2017 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, proposing a new methodology for the construction of this synthetic index, which it solves the problems of aggregation of variables expressed in different measures, arbitrary weighting and duplicity of information; issues that remain unresolved by the TTCI. Likewise, we analyse the most influential dimensions in tourism competitiveness. Air transport infrastructures, cultural resources and ICT readiness are the key dimensions that explain the main disparities.Funding Agency Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness State Research Agency (SRA) European Union (EU) ECO2017-86822-Rinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comprehensive evaluation of the tourism seasonality using a synthetic DP2 indicator

Tourism plays an important role in the economic development of several regions over the world. Imbalances in the activity levels throughout the year will condition the positive effects generated by the sector given that work stability and economic flows are dependent upon it. The measurement of seasonality based on indicators that are built using individual variables offers only a partial picture of the situation, or even contradictory results subject to which data were taken as a reference. This paper proposes a new system to measure seasonality. It is based on a DP2 synthetic indicator that includes both, supply and demand variables and is able to determine comprehensively how intense seasonality is. This method, which is replicable in any region, has been applied to the regions of Spain. It has been determined that the areas with a better annual stability are Madrid and the Canary Islands. This indicator also allows us to analyze the amount of information provided by each variable when constructing the indicator, as well as identifying the most relevant variables when explaining regional disparities.This research has been partially supported by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, the State Research Agency (SRA) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (project reference ECO2017-86822-R)

Effects of Vacation RentalWebsites on the Concentration of Tourists—Potential Environmental Impacts. An Application to the Balearic Islands in Spain

The concentration of tourists at certain times of the year can damage sensitive environments. The use of peer-to-peer vacation rental websites has increased greatly during the last decade. This system could either reduce seasonality in touristic destinations where the tourist activity takes place throughout the year at a lower price or on the contrary, it could increase the number of visitors at certain times of the year even more. This paper intends to analyze the effect that these platforms have on tourism seasonality in order to calculate if they help reduce or increase the pressure on the destinations. To do so, the Gini Index has been applied to one of the main touristic spots in Europe, the Balearic Islands in Spain. The conclusion is that this type of accommodation has aggravated the problem, generating a greater concentration of tourists and a higher pressure on the resources of the islands.The authors would like to thank the financial support provided by the Government of Spain (ECO2013-44879-R) and the Regional Government of Andalucía (SEJ-393)

An analysis of the stability of rural tourism as a desired condition for sustainable tourism

Tourism is a key sector in the sustainable development of rural environments. Its ability to create stable employment and an acceptable level of profits is conditioned by the stability of tourist activity throughout the year. This paper compares the level of seasonality of a group of rural destinations to that of coastal and urban destinations. By doing so, we intend to determine whether seasonality-related problems exist in the rural environment or not. The second aim is related to the first one: the proposal of a new, more comprehensive and objective methodology that can measure the intensity of seasonality based on a DP2 synthetic indicator. The DP2 indicator groups information about different representative variables of seasonality. The study takes the main tourist spots in Spain as a reference. The analysis concludes that the annual level of stability of rural tourism is not far from the stability of urban tourism, which is the most stable, as seasonality is much higher in coastal destinations. The methodology that provides the framework to build the DP2 indicator has allowed us to identify which variables explain the differences in the level of seasonality of each destination to a large extent. The results showed that the variables that do so are related to the internalization of the destination and changes in the availability of bed places

ASSESSING MDG 6 IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A TERRITORIAL ANALYSIS USING A SYNTHETIC INDICATOR

Sub-Saharan Africa has the most serious HIV and AIDS epidemic in the world. As a result, the epidemic has devastating, widespread social and economic consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children under the age of five and pregnant women. Given this situation, it is important to analyse which countries have been able to improve in progress toward fulfilling Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6: Combat HIV, AIDS and malaria in recent years. We analyse and quantify progress towards MDG 6 by comparing a large number of the variables defined in the UN Millennium Declaration in sub-Saharan African countries up to 2013. To construct the synthetic indicator from a multidimensional approach, we used the P2 distance method

Los derechos humanos en el Cuerno de África: un índice de salud infantil y materna

J.A. Rodríguez Martín, the corresponding author of the article, gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the following institutions: the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain, the State Research Agency (SRA) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (project reference ECO2017-86822-R).Objective: To construct a territorial measure and classification of child and maternal health in the countries of the Horn of Africa based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Method: The design of our index includes the variables child and maternal health defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enable territorial ranking of the countries. For this purpose, we used Pena’s distance method for 2017. Results: The results indicate a relatively high territorial disparity inmaternal health between the countries of the Horn of Africa according to the differing values of the SDGs variables of child and maternal health. Conclusions: We propose a territorial classification in the countries of the Horn of Africa. We believe that the most striking differences between countries relate to basic variables of maternal health such as being attended by skilled health personnel.Objetivo: Elaborar una medida y clasificación territorial de la salud infantil y materna en los países del Cuerno de África, basada en la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible, que fue adoptada por todos los Estados miembros de las Naciones Unidas en 2015. Método: El diseno˜ del índice incluye variables de salud infantil y materna definidas en los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), para permitir la clasificación territorial de los países. Para este propósito, utilizamos el método de distancia de Pena para 2017. Resultados: Los resultados revelan una disparidad territorial relativamente alta en salud materna entre los países del Cuerno de África, de acuerdo con los diferentes valores de las variables ODS. Conclusiones: Proponemos una clasificación territorial en el Cuerno de África. Consideramos que las mayores diferencias entre los países se relacionan con variables básicas de salud materna, como la asistencia de personal de salud cualificado

Estructuras y liderazgo en cuatro redes españolas dedicadas al tráfico de drogas

Este artículo tiene como objetivo estudiar, desde la perspectiva del análisis de redes sociales, la estructura, las personas más relevantes y las posiciones jerárquicas de los miembros de cuatro grupos involucrados en el tráfico de cocaína de nivel medio (mayoristas). Con este fin, se ha recabado información de los archivos policiales sobre cuatro operaciones criminales, a través de un cuestionario de 76 variables, divididas en cuatro áreas principales: las características de la organización, el mercado ilícito, actividades instrumentales o transversales y el perfil de los miembros del grupo. También se ha recogido información sobre contactos telefónicos y reuniones registradas en la investigación policial, con el fin de analizar la organización desde la perspectiva del análisis de redes sociales. Las cuatro redes han sido examinadas teniendo en cuenta tres aspectos: la estructura, los actores centrales e intermediarios y sus posiciones jerárquicas. Los resultados muestran diferencias con los enfoques tradicionales jerárquicos y avanzan posibles aplicaciones para la investigación y la inteligencia criminalThe aim of the paper is to present the findings of a research which targets the application of social network analysis (SNA) perspective to data coming from police investigations about four middle level drug trafficking organizations. For that purpose, we have collected information from police files of 4 investigations of criminal organizations by means of a questionnaire of 76 variables divided in four main areas: features of the organization, illicit market, instrumental or transversal activities and profile of members. Additionally, we have gathered information about wiretappings and meetings registered by the criminal investigation with the intention to analyze the organization under SNA perspective. The four networks have been analyzed taking into account three dimensions: a) structure and inside roles; b) powerful members; c) hierarchical positions. Results show up differences between networks and advantages of SNA perspective in comparison with more hierarchical approaches and further applications for investigation and intelligence purpose

Ansiedad social específica y generalizada: ¿variantes del mismo trastorno o categorías diferentes con características similares?

El objetivo de este estudio descriptivo transversal fue evaluar las diferencias y similitudes entre la ansiedad social específica y generalizada en una muestra de adolescentes españoles. Para ello, un total de 1.012 jóvenes fueron evaluados, en su entorno escolar, mediante una serie de pruebas que miden variables demográficas, ansiedad social, competencias psicosociales y distintos problemas clínicos. Dos grupos de ansiedad social (específica, n = 50; generalizada, n = 38) fueron establecidos en función de un doble criterio cuantitativo mediante la Escala de Ansiedad en Interacción Social. Los resultados indicaron que no había diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos respecto a las variables demográficas y competencias psicosociales evaluadas. Las únicas diferencias significativas encontradas fueron obtenidas en las variables referidas a la actuación e interacción en situaciones sociales, donde los adolescentes con ansiedad social generalizada puntaron más alto que los que presentaban ansiedad social específica. Parece ser que el patrón de las diferencias en los niveles de ansiedad va asociado a las propias situaciones de actuación e interacción social.The aim of this transversal descriptive study was to assess the differences and similarities between the specific and generalized social anxiety in a sample of Spanish adolescents. For this purpose, a total of 1.012 young people were assessed - at school – by means of some measurements that assess demographic variables, psychosocial competences and different clinical problems. The specific (n = 50) and generalized (n = 38) social anxiety groups were established according to a double quantitative criterion based on the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale. The results indicated that no significant differences in the assessed demographic variables and psychosocial competences were found between these two groups of social anxiety. The difference between the mean scores in the social anxiety groups was significant only in the variables that referred to the social interaction and performance situations. In these variables, the generalized social anxiety group punctuated significantly higher than the specific social anxiety one. It seems that the different patterns in anxiety levels are associated to the situations of social interaction themselves and performance situations.O objectivo deste estudo descritivo transversal foi avaliar as diferenças e as semelhanças entre a ansiedade social específica e a generalizada numa amostra de adolescentes espanhóis. Para isso, um total de 1.012 jovens foram avaliados, no seu ambiente escolar, mediante uma série de provas que medem variáveis demográficas, ansiedade social, competências psicossociais e problemas clínicos distintos. Dois grupos de ansiedade social (específica, n = 50; generalizada, n = 38) foram estabelecidos em função de um duplo critério quantitativo através da Escala de Ansiedade em Interacção Social. Os resultados indicaram que não havia diferenças significativas entre os grupos a respeito das variáveis demográficas e competências psicossociais avaliadas. As únicas diferenças significativas encontradas foram obtidas em variáveis referidas na actuação e interacção em situações sociais, donde os adolescentes com ansiedade social generalizada pontuaram mais alto que os que apresentavam ansiedade social específica. Parece que o padrão das diferenças nos níveis de ansiedade está associado às próprias situações de actuação e interacção social

Youth Self-Report Factor Structure: Detecting Sex and Age Differences in Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Spanish School Adolescent Sample

The Youth Self-Report (YSR/11-18) is a widely used child-report measure that assesses problem behaviors along two “broadband scales”: internalizing and externalizing. It also scores eight empirically based syndromes and DSM-oriented scales and provides a summary of total problems. Although the YSR was designed for youths ages 11-18, no studies have systematically evaluated whether youths under the age of 11 can make valid reports using the YSR broad-band, syndrome and DSM-oriented scales. It is a parallel form to the caretaker-completed Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and teacher-completed Teacher Report Form (TRF). Few studies related to YSR/11-18 (Achenbach, & Rescorla, 2000, 2001) factor structure were carried out in Spanish children and adolescent population. This study analyses the factor structure of this assessment tool, in 961 Spanish adolescents attending school from 13 to 18 years old. A principal components method was used to extract the factors followed by a Varimax rotation. According to current research, each sex was treated separately, and only items referred to misbehavior (105 out of 119) were included. Seven first-order common factors were found in both, boys and girls: Anxious/Depressed, Somatic Complaints, Delinquent Behavior, Aggressive Behavior, Attention Problems, Thought Problems and Relational Problems. Factoring of these seven syndromes led to a single second-order factor in younger males. Older males and females showed labeled internalize and externalize symptoms. These results resembled that obtained in former studies with Spanish population

Insulin degradation by adipose tissue is increased in human obesity

White adipose tissue samples from obese and lean patients were used for the estimation ofinsulin protease and insulin:glutathione transhydrogenase using 1251-labeled insulin. There was no activity detected in the absence of reduced glutathione, which indicates that insulin is cleaved in human adipose "tissue through reduction of the disulfide bridge between the chains. O bese patients showed higher transhydrogenase activity (per U tissue protein wt, per U tissue wt, and in the total adipose tissue mass) than the lean group. There is a significant correlation between the activity per U tissue wt, and protein and total activity in the whole adipose tissue with respect to body mass index, with a higher activity in obese patients. The potential ofinsulin cleavage by adipose tissue in obese patients was a mean 5.6-fold higher than that in controla. The coexistence of high insulinemia and high cleavage capability implies that insulin secretion and turnover are increased in the o bese. Thus, white adipose tissue may be crucial in the control of energy availability through modulation ofinsulin cleavage