Knowledge Processes in Tourism (EURODITE and so what?)

Knowledge Processes in Tourism(EURODITE and so what?)

1. Research setting: EURODITE and tourism

2. Conceptualising knowledge dynamics - briefly

3. Key results: Knowledge, tourism, and public policy

4. And so what?

Henrik Halkier, Aalborg University, halkier@ihis.aau.dk

RESEARCH SETTING Eurodite and tourism

Policy concerns

• EU Lisbon strategy in practice: high-tech, big-science ?

• cluster-mania in policy communities across Europe

EURODITE contributions 2005-2010

• network researching regional knowledge dynamics

• focus on seven selected sectors, including tourism

• sectoral / territorial knowledge dynamics

• firm-level case studies

CONCEPTUALISING KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICS

• knowledge types: different truth criteria– analytical, synthetic, symbolic

• knowledge phases: purpose of activity– exploration, examination, exploitation

• knowledge sites: location– explicit, complicit, implicit

– individual, collective

• knowledge processes: drivers, strategies, institutions– regulation, markets, networks, corporate objectives

– organisational, professional, markets, products/processes

EURODITEin North Jutland

• three case-studies af network development within tourism– Knowledge use/generation, knowledge

geography, knowledge types

• Diverse case-studies– Culture/nature, short/long time span

• Endless interviews by willing volunteers– DMO development in Toppen af Danmark (PFH)- all-year tourism in Mariagerfjord (AT)- innovation in cultural heritage (LDO)

KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICSNorth Jutland and beyond

Analytical Synthetic Symbolic

Exploration (Market research) (Market research)

Examination Market research Market research

Exploitation Productdevelopment

Promotiondevelopment

North Jutland and the rest• Extensive mobilisation of tacit knowledge

– Marketing, product development, organisational development

• Increasing network interaction, especially internally– Ownership/stakeholding central issues

• Coordination and competition between localities

Room for improvement• Use of regional/international knowledge resources

– Knowledge about consumer/product trends– Short-termism

KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICSNorth Jutland and beyond

Further research possibilities• Knowledge in destination management processes

– Making of policies between public/private/locality• more of the same?• more systematic international comparisons?

• External sources of knowledge in tourism development– Universities, consultants, WTO

• Knowledge and political agenda setting– The rise of experience economy policies

• Knowledge and north-south tour operators

EURODITE and beyond ?