*Article* **Fuzzy Techniques Applied to the Analysis of the Causes and Effects of Tourism Competitiveness**

**Martha B. Flores-Romero 1,†, Miriam E. Pérez-Romero 1,†, José Álvarez-García 2,\*,† and María de la Cruz del Río-Rama 3,†**


† These authors contributed equally to this work.

**Abstract:** The aim of this research is to identify and analyze the causes and effects of tourism competitiveness, as well as cause–effect relationships from the perspective of two groups of experts, which are decision makers versus academics/researchers, both from the tourism sector. The purpose is to respond to the question: do decision makers in the tourism sector share the same perspective as academics/researchers regarding the relationship between the causes and effects of tourism competitiveness? The methodology used is the theory of expertons, the theory of forgotten effects and the Hamming distance. It was found that in most cases, the groups of experts share perspective, since their differences are small or non-existent. However, in all the relationships analyzed (cause– effect, cause–cause, and effect–effect), academic experts reported the highest assessment. The greatest difference in opinion is identified in the evaluation of the "Environmental Commitment" and "Tourist Demand" relationship. Decision makers in the tourism sector are ignoring the growing inclination and sensitivity that tourists are adopting towards the environment. It is necessary for the tourism sector to develop and consolidate its commitment to caring for and preserving the environment, which is an element that contributes to a destination's competitiveness and has two main effects: tourism demand and customer satisfaction.

**Keywords:** tourist destination competitiveness; experton theory; forgotten effects theory; Hamming distance; decision making
