ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF TOURIST SERVICES IN TRANSCARPATHIA
Authors: Lokhman N. V. , Beridze T. M. , Lokhman M. O. , Chokoi D. A. 
Published: April 2024

Objective. The objective of the present article is to develop and apply an algorithm for assessing the competitiveness of tourist services in Transcarpathia.

Methods. The following methods and techniques of cognition were used in the research process: theoretical generalization and comparison, analysis and synthesis, methods of economic and statistical analysis, graphic method.

Results. Due to the presence of favorable characteristics of the natural and recreational potential, a significant development of the tourism sphere is observed in Transcarpathia. A large number of tourist business entities, an extensive system of accommodation and catering facilities, remoteness from military operations allow local, domestic and foreign tourists to be interested in relaxing and recuperating in the territory of this region.

We believe that the assessment of the competitiveness of tourist services in Transcarpathia should take into account existing methods and be based on expert assessments and statistical indicators.

The first stage "Analysis of the dynamics of indicators of the development of tourist services in the Transcarpathian region" involves four consecutive steps: 1) assessment of the number of tourists served by tour operators and travel agents by types of tourist services; 2) determination of the structure of tourist flows; 3) analysis of the dynamics of tourist flows; 4) analysis of indices of the ratio of inbound tourists to outbound tourists according to basic indices.

The second stage "Analysis of the place of Transcarpathia in the development of tourist services in the regions of Ukraine" also involves four consecutive steps: 1) analysis of the number of subjects of tourist activity; 2) analysis of income from the provision of tourist services; 3) analysis of costs from the provision of tourist services; 4) analysis of the number of tourists.

At the third stage of the evaluation of the competitiveness of tourist services "Determining the rating of Transcarpathia according to the statistical indicators of tourism" based on the calculations of the relative indicators of the development of tourist services in the regions of Ukraine, a comprehensive assessment of the tourist activity of these regions was carried out and the competitive position of the Transcarpathian region among other regions of Ukraine was determined using the method " amount of places".

The fourth stage "Competitive analysis of Transcarpathia according to tourism indicators through expert evaluations" involves three consecutive steps: 1) monitoring of the natural resource potential of the Carpathian region; 2) assessment of the components of the competitiveness of competing regions using expert assessments; 3) assessment of categories of tourist products of the Carpathian region using expert assessments.

Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the competitiveness of Transcarpathian tourist services based on the proposed algorithm testifies to the sufficiently developed tourist and recreational potential of the region. Obtained on the basis of statistical indicators and expert evaluations, integral and rating evaluations make it possible to define Transcarpathia as a region that is competitive from the point of view of the formation and provision of tourist services.

The proposed algorithm for assessing the competitiveness of Transcarpathia's tourist services, which involves four stages (analysis of the dynamics of indicators of the development of tourism services in Transcarpathia, analysis of the place of Transcarpathia in the development of tourist services in the regions of Ukraine, determination of the rating of Transcarpathia according to tourism statistical indicators, competitive analysis of Transcarpathia according to tourism indicators through expert evaluations), which, in turn, consist of separate research steps, provides an opportunity to comprehensively research and evaluate the competitiveness of tourist services in the specified region based on both statistical indicators and expert assessments.