INNOVATION SYSTEMS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY - POLICY APPROACHES AND DRIVING FORCES

In order to enhance the competitive advantage and in order to create economic and employment successes, the tourist industry is obliged to innovate on a continual base. In all industries, innovation takes place in a social, cultural, economic, institutional and regulatory environment – an innovation system. In the case of tourism there is a limited understanding of the nature and implication of innovation system. The assumption behind this study is that the Nordic types of innovation systems render particular opportunities for the tourism sector. The Nordic setting also provides barriers for the sector. Innovative industry may, however, reassess and re-conceptualise the difficulties and harvest the creative potentials. For the policy process, it of major importance to understand the driving forces that govern innovation processes. In connection with the tourism industry there is an “innovation policy vacuum” that this project will aim at filling. Through comparative research and illustrative case studies, the project shall: Develop a deeper understanding of the format and consequences of innovation systems in tourism and the driving forces that govern the innovation process; Conceptualise and analyse the particular Nordic nature of the innovation systems; Suggest and analyse policy measures that enhance and develop Nordic innovation systems. Target groups: policy makers at all levels, business communities, and academia. Collaboration partners: ETOUR / Mittuniversitetet, Sweden, BI Norwegian School of Management, Norway, University of Akureyri, Iceland, and Science Park Aarhus, Denmark.