Competitiveness is an important matter receiving increasing attention by the tourism industry. There is an intense focus on destination competitiveness and it became evident that smaller tourism products are mostly excluded. The main aim of this study was therefore to develop a competitiveness model for tourism products. Five research objectives were derived from the main aim of the research. The first objective was to analyse various research methodologies and structures. Secondly, positioning and travel decision-making and the role thereof in competitiveness were analysed. The third objective was to analyse the key components of competitiveness. Fourthly, to interpret the results from the empirical research enabling the identification of key components of the competitiveness model for tourism products_ The fifth objective was to draw conclusions and lastly recommendations were made. In order to achieve this goal, a literature study was firstly necessary to identify key components of competitiveness in general and to develop the questionnaire. The key words included competitiveness, competitiveness model, tourism industry, competitor and competitor analysis. After the literature study, the empirical research was done by means of a questionnaire_ After pilot testing the questionnaire, the research was conducted amongst tourists visiting Klein Kariba Holiday Resort. With the application of this process 372 useable questionnaires were received. The results of the questionnaires were statistically processed and utilised in designing the competitiveness model. The study indicated that even with smaller tourism products, effective positioning is critical in order to be competitive. Through travel decision-making the most important variables or attributes of positioning are identified and are therefore crucial to understand as these variables or attributes lead to purchase behaviour and have a direct influence on competitiveness. The study also indicated that competitiveness refers to those forces, indicators and success factors that contribute to each tourism product's own uniqueness, allowing the identification of the relative strengths and weaknesses. A valuable contribution was therefore made in determining the relationships between the variables in the model, which directly indicates the importance of certain aspects in increasing competitiveness. Based on the literature and empirical study a competitiveness model for tourism products was developed which can aid managers and product owners in making tourism products more competitive. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Competitiveness is an important matter receiving increasing attention by the tourism industry. There is an intense focus on destination competitiveness and it became evident that smaller tourism products are mostly excluded. The main aim of this study was therefore to develop a competitiveness model for tourism products. Five research objectives were derived from the main aim of the research. The first objective was to analyse various research methodologies and structures. Secondly, positioning and travel decision-making and the role thereof in competitiveness were analysed. The third objective was to analyse the key components of competitiveness. Fourthly, to interpret the results from the empirical research enabling the identification of key components of the competitiveness model for tourism products_ The fifth objective was to draw conclusions and lastly recommendations were made. In order to achieve this goal, a literature study was firstly necessary to identify key components of competitiveness in general and to develop the questionnaire. The key words included competitiveness, competitiveness model, tourism industry, competitor and competitor analysis. After the literature study, the empirical research was done by means of a questionnaire_ After pilot testing the questionnaire, the research was conducted amongst tourists visiting Klein Kariba Holiday Resort. With the application of this process 372 useable questionnaires were received. The results of the questionnaires were statistically processed and utilised in designing the competitiveness model. The study indicated that even with smaller tourism products, effective positioning is critical in order to be competitive. Through travel decision-making the most important variables or attributes of positioning are identified and are therefore crucial to understand as these variables or attributes lead to purchase behaviour and have a direct influence on competitiveness. The study also indicated that competitiveness refers to those forces, indicators and success factors that contribute to each tourism product's own uniqueness, allowing the identification of the relative strengths and weaknesses. A valuable contribution was therefore made in determining the relationships between the variables in the model, which directly indicates the importance of certain aspects in increasing competitiveness. Based on the literature and empirical study a competitiveness model for tourism products was developed which can aid managers and product owners in making tourism products more competitive. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

<p>U disertaciji je kreiran novi model<br />konkurentnosti malih i srednjih preduzeća u<br />tranzicionim uslovima u funkciji optimizacije<br />performansi, održanja i sticanja konkurentnosti.<br />Istraživanje omogućuje identifikovanje ključnih<br />indikatora konkurentnosti malih i srednjih<br />preduzeća u tranzicionim uslovima, ali i njihovu<br />evaluaciju, na taj način pružajući malim i<br />srednjim preduzećima neophodan alat koji<br />omogućuje efikasno praćenje i procenu<br />konkurentnosti, merenje efikasnosti poslovanja,<br />upoređivanje sa konkurentima, kao i<br />formulisanje adekvatne konkurentske strategije.<br />U disertaciji se na odgovarajući način može<br />sagledati signifikantnost eksternih faktora<br />okruženja, kao i konkurentskih strategija i<br />njihova korelacija sa identifikovanim ključnim<br />indikatorima konkurentnosti malih i srednjih<br />preduzeća u tranzicionim uslovima, čime se<br />uspostavlja veza između konkurentnosti malih i<br />srednjih preduzeća u tranzicionim uslovima i<br />primene odgovarajućih strategija u poslovanju.</p> / <p><span style="font-size:10px;">A new competitiveness model of small and<br />medium sized enteprises in transitional context<br />has been created in this dissertation, as a<br />function of performance optimization,<br />maintenance and acquisition of competitiveness.<br />This research enables identification of key<br />competitiveness indicators of small and medium<br />sized enterprises in transition economies, as well<br />as their evaluation, thus providing small and<br />medium sized enteprises with a necessary tool<br />for efficient monitoring and assessment of<br />competitiveness, business efficiency<br />measurement, benchmarking, as well as<br />formulation of adequate competitive strategies.<br />The significance of external environmental<br />factors, as well as of competitive strategies, and<br />their correlation with the identified key<br />competitiveness indicators of small and medium<br />sized enteprises in the transitional context can<br />be adequately observed, thus establishing the<br />relationship between competitiveness of small<br />and medium sized enterprises in transition<br />economies and implementation of adequate<br />business strategies.</span></p>

Tendo em vista que a China domina o mercado das terras-raras e impõe restrições na produção e exportação sempre que surge a oportunidade, torna-se cada vez mais desafiador o desenvolvimento de empreendimentos nesse setor. No entanto, várias iniciativas foram tomadas nos últimos cinco anos no sentido de prospectar novos recursos e desenvolver a cadeia produtiva, inclusive a mineração, desses bens minerais ao redor do mundo. Porém, alguns fatores de incerteza já influenciaram ou vêm influenciando o futuro de alguns projetos em desenvolvimento, tais como o potencial de remuneração do depósito, a infraestrutura local existente, as expectativas de margens operacionais do empreendimento, as implicações dos elementos radioativos presentes nos depósitos, as expectativas potenciais de mercado com os elementos de terras-raras (ETR) produzidos e os fatores políticoeconômicos, conjunturais e de logística. Então, este trabalho introduz uma nova metodologia dinâmica de análise de competitividade (o modelo de competitividade e risco na mineração de terras-raras – MCRM-TR), na qual se consideram as variáveis/os fatores tidos como principais influências na performance de um empreendimento de mineração destinado ao aproveitamento dos ETR. Para o desenvolvimento do modelo, foram realizadas pesquisas nos âmbitos nacional e internacional, consultando empresas e instituições de pesquisa relacionadas com o setor de terras-raras. Por fim, com os dados obtidos nas pesquisas para cada fator dos respectivos depósitos, foram realizadas simulações por meio da geração de números aleatórios, utilizando-se para isso o método de Monte Carlo. A combinação dos principais resultados gerados produziu um índice de competitividade e risco na mineração de terras-raras (ICRM-TR). Com a aplicação dessa nova metodologia, foi possível constatar algumas realidades, como por exemplo o fato de o Projeto Mount Weld CLD – (AUS) da Lynas ter apresentado bons resultados no modelo e, no mundo real, ainda se manter resiliente diante das incertezas do setor de terras-raras, ao mesmo tempo em que o projeto da Molycorp apresentou resultados não tão satisfatórios e, no mundo real, passa por grandes dificuldades financeiras (em recuperação judicial). Também foi possível constatar que o Projeto Araxá da CBMM no Brasil está entre os mais competitivos do país. / It is known that China dominates the rare earth market and imposes constraints on production and export whenever the opportunity arises, so that it always becomes more and more challenging to develop enterprises in the sector. However, several initiatives have been taken in the last five years to explore new resources and develop the production chain, including mining, of these mineral assets around the world. However, some factors of uncertainty have already influenced or are still influencing the future of some projects under development, such as reservoir remuneration potential, existing local infrastructure, expectations of operating margins of the enterprise, implications of the radioactive elements present in the deposits, the potential market expectations with the rare earth elements (REE) produced and the political-economic, conjuncture and logistics factors. So, this work introduces a new dynamic methodology for competitiveness analysis (the competitiveness and risk model in rare earth mining ‒ MCRM-TR or CRM-REM), in which the variables/factors considered as main influences in the performance of a mining for the use of REEs are taken into account. In the development of the model, research was carried out at both national and international levels, consulting companies and research institutions related to the rare earth sector. Finally, with the data obtained in the surveys for each factor of the respective deposits, simulations were performed through the generation of random numbers, using the Monte Carlo method. The combination of the main results generated produced an index of competitiveness and risk in the rare earth mining (ICRM-TR or ICM-TRM). With the application of this new methodology, it was possible to verify some realities, such as the fact that the Mount Weld CLD Project (AUS) from Lynas had good results in the model and, in the real world, still remain resilient in the face of the uncertainties of the sector at the same time the Molycorp project presented less than satisfactory results and, in the real world, undergoing major financial difficulties (in judicial recovery). It was also possible to verify that the Araxá Project of CBMM in Brazil is among the most competitive in the country.