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Abstract
Using Jensen’s inequality (and its mathematical generalization), this contribution shows how increased seasonal (periodic) variability of demand for tourism services can increase the annual profit of a tourism enterprise and the producers’ surplus of a corresponding competitive segment of the tourism industry experiencing this increased variability. It identifies conditions which result in these effects being magnified and takes account of the fact that a tourism business’ supply of services is often subject to capacity utilization constraints. A novel feature is that allowance is made for the possibility that variations in the market demand for tourism services may alter the prices of factors of production.