Table of Contents

Chapter One: Overview of Benchmarking Theory 1.1: Overview of Benchmarking Theory 1.2: Overview of Performance Measurement Theory Chapter Two: Evaluating Benchmarking Studies in Tourism 2.1: Overview of Benchmarking Studies in Tourism 2.2: Limitations of Past Benchmarking Research in Tourism Chapter Three: Towards Destination Benchmarking 3.1: Major Characteristics of the Tourism Industry 3.2: Rationale for Destination Benchmarking 3.3: What is 'Destination Benchmarking'? 3.4: Elements of Destination Benchmarking 3.5: Measuring Destination Performance 3.6: Types of Destination Benchmarking 3.7: Taking Action Chapter Four: Measures of Destination Benchmarking  4.1: Rationale for Measuring Destination Performance  4.2: Indicators of Destination Performance Measures 4.3: Qualitative Measures 4.4: Quantitative Measures 4.5: Strengths and Weaknesses of Destination Measures  Chapter Five: Internal Destination Benchmarking 5.1: Practices of Internal Destination Benchmarking  5.2: Proposed Model of Internal Destination Benchmarking 5.2.a: Measuring the Internal Performance  5.2.b: Collecting the Data  5.2.c: Identifying Performance Gaps 5.2.d: Deciding What to Benchmark  5.2.e: Presenting the Benchmarking Findings  5.2.f: Taking Action 5.3: Strengths and Weaknesses of Internal Destination Benchmarking  Chapter Six: External Destination Benchmarking  6.1: Practices of External Destination Benchmarking  6.2: Proposed Model of External Destination Benchmarking  6.3: Strengths and Weaknesses of External Destination Benchmarking  Chapter Seven: Generic Destination Benchmarking  7.1: Practices of Generic Destination Benchmarking  7.2: Proposed Model of Generic Destination Benchmarking  7.2.a: Measuring the Internal Performance  7.2.b: Collecting the Data  7.2.c: Identifying Performance Gaps  7.2.d: Deciding what to Benchmark  7.2.e: Taking Action  7.3: Strengths and Weaknesses of Generic Destination Benchmarking  Chapter Eight: Data Collection and Analysis  8.1: Research Methods  8.2: Formulation of Data Collection Procedures  8.2.a: Application of Quantitative Research Methods  8.2.b: Application of Qualitative Research Methods  8.3: Selection of Sample Populations  8.4: Collecting Primary Data  8.5: Collecting Secondary Data  8.6: Analysis of Quantitative Data  8.7: Analysis of Qualitative Data  8.8: Overall Analysis  Chapter Nine: Destination Benchmarking: Characteristics and Limitations  9.1: Destination Benchmarking versus Organisation Benchmarking  9.2: Principles of Destination Benchmarking  9.3: Limitations Influencing the Success of Destination Benchmarking  Chapter Ten: Conclusion  10.1: A General Overview of Destination Benchmarking  10.2: Recommendations for Benchmarking in Practice

About the Author

is Professor of Tourism in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey and currently affiliated as a Visiting Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong. He holds both Master's and Ph.D. degrees in tourism management. His research focuses on consumer behaviour, benchmarking, destination management and marketing, and Mediterranean tourism. He acts as the co-editor of Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research.

Reviews

"This book is loaded with insight, founded on thoroughly researched benchmarketing theory and practice. It not only methodically examines benchmarketing and its usage in tourism, it proposes very practical applications, suggestions for users, and even includes forms such as a questionnaire that could be used in a benchmarketing survey."--Jeffrey W Alstete

"This book makes a genuine contribution to tourism studies and can also aid those in other related fields such as park and recreation management in developing and implementing a benchmarking system.... It focuses on destination benchmarking, not just tourism benchmarking, and is rich with management and marketing strategies."-- "Journal of Leisure Research"

"This book would benefit anyone reading it with even a passing interest in the topic. It should be required reading for undergraduate / graduate students, academic researchers and practitioners interested in undertaking destination benchmarking research....Well-informed research offers academics and practitioners insights into how they can improve or achieve destination competitiveness through destination benchmarking."-- "Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing"