Determinants of the competitiveness of small and medium hotel enterprises (SMES) affecting the attraction of international tourism to the colonial cities of Mexico: a comparative analysis between Puebla, Puebla and Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine that transportation infrastructure, innovation, price, and skilled labor are variables that influence the international competitiveness of hotel micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the cities of Puebla de Zaragoza, Puebla, and Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, in attracting international tourism. The theoretical basis is based on Michael Porter's Theory of Competitive Advantage. Methodologically, the universe and sample of MSMEs in both cities were defined, and fieldwork was conducted through questionnaires. To test the hypothesis, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality distribution test was applied to determine the most appropriate statistical test for the analysis. Based on the results obtained, the Mann-Whitney U test was used as a contrast method. Subsequently, an additional validation was performed using Bayes' Theorem. The results indicate that the variables considered have a positive impact on the competitiveness of these companies in attracting international tourism. The conclusion is that it is important to design and implement public tourism promotion policies to increase the attraction of foreign tourists to Puebla and Morelia.