[en] ABSTRACT The concept of tourism competitiveness, in the management of tourist destinations, has been widely debated in academic and professional environments, currently presenting a double problem of delimitation and measurement. Of the different models, the best known is the model of the World Economic Forum (WEF) having a competitive positioning of 141 economies, through its Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which incorporates aspects of the neoliberal agenda, it must be considered to achieve success in both destinations and their management organizations (Destination Management Organizations: DMO). Spain is a world leader in tourism competitiveness in the WEF report 2015 and, according to the double prominent problem, this paper aims to know the basis of competitiveness of Spain and its competitive positioning. These objectives will complete using the Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT), which allow the objective measurement of the competitive model of the WEF, in particular the competitive positioning of 141 economies, as well as the factors (pillars) determinants of these positions. The findings related to Spain demonstrate competitive factors determining its position in the WEF model 2015. Spain has a high level on the key factors in the global tourism market: pillar 4 (Human Resources and Labour Market), pillar 2 (Safety and Security) and pillar 3 (Health and Hygiene). While its strengh stands at some non-key factor: pillar 6 (Prioritization of Travel & Tourism), pillar 11(Ground and Port Infrastructure), pillar 12 (Tourist Service Infrastructure) and pillar 14 (Cultural Resources and Business Travel). The pillar 8 (Price Competitiveness) is a weakness of Spain. This situation is counterweight, in relative terms, since their direct competitors are in a worse situation.

[es] El concepto de competitividad turística ha sido ampliamente debatido en ambientes académicos y profesionales, presentando actualmente un doble problema de delimitación y de medición. De los diferentes modelos existentes, el más conocido es el modelo del World Economic Forum (WEF) que presenta un posicionamiento competitivo de 141 economías, mediante su Travel and Tourism Competitivenes Index (TTCI), que recoge aspectos de la agenda neoliberal, que ha de ser considerados para lograr el éxito tanto en los destinos como en sus organizaciones gestoras (en inglés: Destination Management Organizations: DMO). España es líder mundial en competitividad turística en el informe del WEF de 2015 y, de acuerdo al doble problema destacado, se pretende con este trabajo conocer las base de la competitividad de España y su posicionamiento competitivo. El logro de esos objetivos se realizará utilizando la Teoría de la Medición de Rasch (TMR), que permite la medición objetiva del modelo competitivo del WEF, y en particular del posicionamiento competitivo de las 141 economías, así como de los factores (pilares) determinantes de esos posicionamientos. Las conclusiones referidas a España evidencian los factores competitivos determinantes de su posicionamiento en el modelo del WEF de 2015. España dispone de un alto nivel en los factores claves en el mercado turístico mundial: pilar 4 (Human Resources and Labour Market), pilar 2 (Safety and Securit) y pilar 3 (Health and Hygiene). Mientras que destaca sus fortalezas en algún factor no clave: pilar 6 (Priorization of Travel & Tourism), pilar 11 (Ground and Port Infrastructure), pilar 12 (Tourist Service Infrastructure) y pilar 14 (Cultural Resources and Business Travel). El pilar 8 (Price Competitiveness) es una debilidad de España. Esta situación se compensa, en términos relativos, dado que sus competidores directos están en una situación peor.