Evaluation of the efficiency of Campismo Popular in the provinces through Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a non-parametric technique to evaluate the relative efficiency of decision-making units in the tourism sector, comparing inputs (resources) and outputs (results). The present study evaluates the efficiency of the Higher Business Management Organization (OSDE) Campismo Popular in the Cuban provinces during the period 2019-2023 through the use of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), specifically under the variable returns to scale (VRS) model. The research covers a research gap in the existing literature by focusing on the management of popular camping. Seven input variables were analyzed: actual national tourists days, actual available cabin days, actual cabin days occupied by nationals, actual national physical tourists, actual transported national tourists, actual excursions and average tourism stay; and two output variables: total income and profits. The results reveal a high differentiation in efficiency levels, highlighting Villa Clara, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, Artemisa and Granma as inefficient provinces in the last year. Slack analysis identified specific increases needed in inputs and actions to achieve efficiency. This study contributes to the methodological advance in the evaluation of efficiency in the Cuban tourism sector and offers practical recommendations for the optimization of the management of the OSDE popular campismo, promoting its economic and operational sustainability.