Innovation for sustainability through co-creation by small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs): Socio-cultural sustainability benefits to rural destinations
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Date
2024
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Publisher
Elservier
Abstract
Small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs) are the dominant industry players in rural destinations. This
study investigates how they can contribute to socio-cultural sustainability benefits of rural destination com
munities by engaging in co-creation in innovation for sustainability (IFS). The rural destinations of Vega and
Røros were selected as qualitative empirical cases to investigate 14 tourism SMEs’ co-creation in IFS practices.
The findings indicate that due to contextual elements of rurality (e.g. local embeddedness, strong personal re
lations, and trust), tourism SMEs co-create in IFS with various local stakeholders, and contribute to the sociocultural benefits of rural destinations’ sustainability through local sourcing, education, resource synergies, in
clusion, and quality of life. This study contributes to the literature on sustainable rural destination development
and the role of tourism SMEs, as well as expands the understanding of IFS and the benefits of co-creation.
Description
Tourism Management Perspectives 50 (2024) 101201
Keywords
Innovation for sustainability,Co-creation,Tourism,Socio-cultural benefits,SMEs,Rural destinations