Site Selection Analysis in Tourism: the LOCAT Model

Site location analysis and retail location strategy can be considered critical factors and integral elements of an effective organisational business plan in the tourism industry. The LOCAT model attempts to measure the total attractiveness index of a particular site location on the basis of calculating the impact of its components (degree of accessibility, total catchment population, level of tourist product uniqueness and probability of tourist patronage). A practical example testing the degree of applicability of the model is also introduced. The results seem to indicate that the LOCAT model can be manipulated in order to anticipate future developments in the process of site location analysis in tourism and improve the managerial decision-making process.