Análisis de la elasticidad-precio de la demanda del segmento ocio en el sector hotelero de Guayaquil : una evaluación econométrica de su estructura de mercado.

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between price elasticity and market structure in the leisure segment of the hotel sector in Guayaquil using panel data econometrics. To achieve this objective, annual information on hotels for the period 2017-2025 is collected, including variables such as average hotel rates, occupancy, and domestic and/or international tourist arrivals. By applying logarithmic models with individual fixed effects, the relationship between prices and demand is analyzed, controlling for unobserved heterogeneity among hotels. The results suggest that hotel rates are positively influenced by variations in occupancy and variations in tourist demand flows, although this effect is not uniform throughout the demand cycle. In situations of high demand, hotels can adjust hotel prices upwards, suggesting that there is lower price elasticity of demand, as well as short-term market power. Likewise, it is relevant to find different effects between domestic and international arrivals in terms of rate setting, a fact that highlights the importance of the composition of tourist demand.