International Journal of Geo-Information Article Hot Spot Analysis versus Cluster and Outlier Analysis: An Enquiry into the Grouping of Rural Accommodation in Extremadura (Spain) José-Manuel Sánchez-Martín 1,* , Juan-Ignacio Rengifo-Gallego 2 and Rocío Blas-Morato 2 1 Faculty of Business, Finance and Tourism, University of Extremadura, 10071 Caceres, Spain 2 Faculty of Letters, University of Extremadura, 10071 Caceres, Spain;
[email protected] (J.-I.R.-G.);
[email protected] (R.B.-M.) * Correspondence:
[email protected] Received: 13 February 2019; Accepted: 1 April 2019; Published: 4 April 2019 Abstract: The importance of the distribution of accommodation businesses over a certain area has grown remarkably, especially if such distribution is mapped using tools and techniques that utilize the territory as a variable in the analysis. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate, by means of a geographical information system (GIS) and spatial statistics, that it is possible to better define the groupings of rural accommodation available in Extremadura, Spain, especially if these are conceptualized by dint of their lodging capacity. To do so, two specific techniques have been used: hotspot analysis and outlier analysis, which yield results that prove the existence of homogeneous and heterogeneous groups of accommodation businesses, based not only on their spatial proximity but also on their lodging capacity. On the basis of this analysis, the regional administration can devise tourist policies and strategic plans in order to improve the management and efficiency of each business. Despite the applicability of the present results, this study also addresses the difficulties in using these techniques—Where establishing the spatial relationships and the boundary distance are key concepts.