Merging traditional and new research designs, data sources and analytical methods: The new gold standard for decision-making in tourism? (SURVEY+)

Project details:
This project directly supports the initiatives of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to strengthen the statistical evidence-base underpinning tourism policy. Traditional data sources such as surveys and other data sources based on structured statistical processes remain the gold standard for informed tourism management in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. However, traditional approaches often require high levels of aggregation, while becoming less efficient and more expensive. The SURVEY+ project is aimed at improving the survey methods and effectiveness of survey research supported by new data sources (big data) and advanced analytical tools such as machine learning. Project outcomes will support the development of the statistical framework for measuring the socio-economic impacts of tourism.

Scientific activities:

Measuring the socio-economic impacts of tourism
Reducing the risk of response bias in survey research
Increasing the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of survey research
Establishing a methodological framework for conducting experimental research in tourism
Implementing machine learning methods and big data analysis with survey research methodology
Analysis of the willingness to engage in citizen science initiatives for monitoring and measuring tourism

Project leader:
Ivan Sever, PhD

Team members:

Ana Perišić, PhD (Faculty of Science Split, Šibenik University of Applied Sciences)
Miroslav Verbič, PhD (Institute for Economic Research, Ljubljana)
Josip Mikulić, PhD (Faculty of Economics & Business Zagreb, Institute for Tourism)
Zrinka Marušić, mag. math., univ. spec. oec. (Institute for Tourism)
Ivo Beroš, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
Ivan Kožić, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
Hrvoje Carić, PhD (Institute for Tourism)
Ivan Sever, PhD (Institute for Tourism)

News

09.02.2024.

Kick off meeting at the internal research project SURVEY+

On February 9, 2024, the first meeting of the scientific research project SURVEY+ was held at the Institute for Tourism. The project is aimed at improving survey methods and more efficient implementation of survey research supported by new data sources (big data) and advanced analytical tools such as machine learning. The aim of the project is to improve the statistical framework for better measurement of socio-economic impacts of tourism. At the meeting, the members of the project team were introduced, along with a presentation of the activities planned during the first year of the project, which are mostly related to the methodological framework for identifying and prioritizing socio-economic risks for sustainable tourism development, assessment of bias and validity in survey research, and sentiment analysis.
The entire project team consists of eight scientists from five institutions: Institute for Tourism, Faculty of Science Split, Šibenik University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Economic Research in Ljubljana and Faculty of Economics & Business in Zagreb.