Networking in Small Tourism Enterprises
How Networking Influences Value Creation
by Sara Madalena Persson (Portugal/Sweden) and Zana Malisevskaja (Lithuania)
Small Tourism Enterprises have been seen as an important factor for regional development because they are vital to the creation of new jobs, and consequently an increase of economic capital. The individual enterprises in a destination have a positive impact on each other in a twofold way: First, they create networks for a stronger market position and second, the competition between them boosts innovation. However, there is a gap between theory and empirical study of networking. Therefore, we are researching how networking can influence the value creation in mediating (incoming and outgoing) tourism enterprises.
Small Tourism Enterprises have been seen as an important factor for regional development because they are vital to the creation of new jobs, and consequently an increase of economic capital. The individual enterprises in a destination have a positive impact on each other in a twofold way: First, they create networks for a stronger market position and second, the competition between them boosts innovation. However, there is a gap between theory and empirical study of networking. Therefore, we are researching how networking can influence the value creation in mediating (incoming and outgoing) tourism enterprises.