Ecoforum 

About: Ecoforum is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Tourism & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 0250-9989. Over the lifetime, 287 publications have been published receiving 915 citations.

Infrastructure as important determinant of tourism development in the countries of southeast europe

Abstract: Tourism infrastructure is the basis of tourism development and utilization of existing destination resources. Tourism infrastructure includes a large number of services, necessary to meet the needs of tourists and increase satisfaction during their stay at the destination. The subject of this paper is the consideration of relationship between the available infrastructure and the achieved level of tourism development. The paper suggests that future tourism development depends on intensive investment in infrastructure and its modernization, as an important factor of development of the tourism sector. The aim of the paper is to analyze the correlation between tourism competitiveness in the Southeast Europe (SEE) countries and the level of competitiveness of tourism infrastructure. It is noted that increase in the number of hotel rooms is a factor that largely contributes to increase in the level of tourism competitiveness of the observed group of countries.

The role and impact of the packaging effect on consumer buying behaviour

Abstract: The objective of this study is to determine the elements that play an important role on consumer’s buying behavior. The purpose of this research is to find out the main important factors related with the packaging effect, which are driving the success of a brand. Companies in order to create the right packaging for their products, they must understand the consumer buying process and understanding the role and the impact of packaging as a variable that can influence the purchase decision. So, by understanding what factors influence the buying behavior and what packaging elements are most important help companies making the right decisions about packaging their products. This research will identify the relationship between consumer buying process as the main variable of the study and some independent variables like packaging color, printed information, packaging material, design of wrapper, printed information, brand image, and innovation and practicality that help consumers in their decision buying process. The primary research data will be collected through a structured questionnaire and SPSS software will be used for analysis purposes. Therefore, the study tries to find out the most important factors that have an impact and influences consumer’s purchase decision.

Impact of capital structure policy on value of the firm – a study on some selected corporate manufacturing firms under dhaka stock exchange

Abstract: The study is about capital structure policy and its impacts on value of the firm. The outcome of this study was both the primary and secondary data. The study was based on opinions survey of 80 respondents of the 20 manufacturing corporate firms, enlisted under Dhaka Stock Exchange. The empirical analysis of the study was limited to a period of five years ranging 2008-2012. The major findings of the study are: (i) the most important determinant of capital structure policy as rated by the respondents have been financial risk , profitability, availability of fund, productivity, liquidity, operating risk, growth rate, proper timing, corporate tax, stability of sales/ investment etc, (ii) the study reveals that in terms of the average positions of capital structure and financial structure during 2008-2012, Beximco pharma has ranked first followed by Square pharma, Apex Adelchi, DESCO, ACI ltd, Titas gas, Bata shoe,Aftab automobile, Reneata pharma, Square textile ltd etc,(iii) as regards the value of the firm during the study period, Titas gas has obtained first rank followed by Square pharma, DESCO, Beximco pharma, BATBC, ACI, Reneta pharma, Apex Tennary, Apex Adelchi, Bata shoe and so on.(iv) this study has portrayed that the independent variables namely capital structure (CS), debt to equity (DER) & debt to asset (DR), fixed assets to total assets(Tangibility), earnings before interest and taxes to interest charges(ICR), financial leverage multiplier(FLM) have influenced value of the firm(VF) to the extent of 79.1 percent significantly. Therefore, it is recommended that the relevant firm’s authority should take proper measures in order to improve the independent variables having positive influence on value of the firms.

The role of innovation in creating the company’s competitive advantage

Abstract: The fundamental and applied research, the technologic transfer and more particularly, the innovation work – as a component part of the said research activity – stand for aspects to which economies have, lately, started to grant increased importance. The rapid changes in the characteristics of external markets, as well as those in the technologic field are challenges for more frequent and more rapid innovations, with the end result in new products, processes and technologies. Innovation is the leading force of competitiveness, of growth, of profitability, as well as of the creation of durable values since it is well known that the competitive advantage, so much wished-for by any organization which operates in a highly competitive environment, is volatile, hard to obtain.

STRATEGIC PLANNING DIMENSIONS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN SOUTH AFRICA: THEIR RELATIVE IMPORTANCE AND VARIATIONS IN SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES.

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the strategic dimensions of SMEs and how each dimension is rated by owners and managers of SMEs. The other objective of the study was to ascertain if differences in strategic planning practices existed with respect to demographic variables namely gender, age and position in the organization. It was found that the main dimensions of strategic planning are mission and vision, environmental scanning, employee participation in the strategic planning process, time horizon of strategic planning, implementation incentives, evaluation and control, formality of strategic planning and source of information about the environment. It was also found that mission and vision, formality of strategic planning and evaluation and control were the most valued factors. No significant statistical difference existed among owners and managers of different age, gender and positions in strategic planning practices. The value of the study is that it offers various dimensions of strategic planning that SMEs can implement to be competitive and sustainable.