Applying Smarta to the analysis of tourist networks

Abstract

The framework of the present study was the destination life cycle model, a classical model that describes the development of tourist destinations. We examined mass tourism in Benidorm based on tourist accommodation supply and demand statistics over the January 2016 to October 2018 period, provided by Spain's National Institute for Statistics. The objective was to analyze the life cycle and competitiveness of Benidorm's tourism system and interpret whether the tourism product was sustainable and at what stage in the cycle Benidorm is currently in. To do this, we used Smarta software, which, based on network analysis, enables to interpret the system's virtuous cycles and analyze causality by observing relationship patterns in the system's attractors, thus complementing typical processing based on causal maps and the study of social networks. The results obtained by this application (which has been developed by our research team) show six sets of attractors that mark the trends of the tourist system. Finally, the analysis of the significant variables of these attractors has helped us to justify that the tourist system of Benidorm is in the rejuvenation phase.