Special issue: Managing tourism in a changing world: Issues and cases

Abstract

This journal issue presents eight papers from a diversified international group of academics, the b est papers that have b een presented at the conference. While drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives and adopting different epistemological paradigms and research methodologies or techniques, they attempt to answer a wide range of research questions related to the relevant themes in destination management (destination b randing for Slovenia is investigated b y Maja Konecnik Ruzzier and Nusa Petek while importance– performance analysis for Australian destinations is examined b y Tony Griffin and Deb orah Edwards), hospitality management (heterogeneity in hotel production processes is analysed b y Cristina Bernini and Andrea Guizzardi), inter-organizational dynamics in the tourism industry (coopetitive strategies among theme parks are scrutinized b y Mika Kylanen and Marcello M. Mariani while franchising in the tourism sector is explored b y Wojchech Czakon), corporate social responsib ility (assessment systems for responsib le tourism products and practices in tourism enterprises are discussed b y Mara Manente, Valeria Minghetti, and Erica Mingotto), knowledge management (knowledge transfer among clustered tourism firms in Southern Brazil is illustrated b y Ariani R. Stacke, Vladimir E. Hoffmann, and Helena A. Costa), and measurement of tourism flows (tourism flows from Russia to the European Union are prob ed b y Kirill Furmanov, Olga Balaeva, and Marina Predvoditeleva). Despite the variety of issues, situations and contexts describ ed and discussed, some common themes emerge. The first one is the importance of the different stakeholders in the management of a destination which goes well b eyond their mere participation in the b usiness. They should contrib ute cooperatively to the performance of the destination, as much tourism literature has well highlighted in the past. Clustered groupings and coopetitive strategies display their positive influence on the whole tourism system and also on the individual companies that adopt this attitude. Moreover, an effective and efficient transfer of knowledge in the sector reinforces the virtuous b ehaviour of collab orative destinations. The second issue relates to the necessity to ground any management or governance process in the tourism sector on a sound informational b asis. Measurement and assessment practices, when methodologically accurate, are fundamental for the design, planning, and implementation of realistic and rational strategies. Last b ut not least, the scarcity of resources of any kind, and especially of those directly connected with the natural and social environment, receives here an attention that is fully deserved. The recognition that it is not possib le to push for growth at all costs anymore, at the expense of sustainab ility, is illustrated here with a specific focus on the social responsib ility of the actors (firms and individuals) involved in tourism activities.