The Role of Managerial and Technological Innovations in the Tourism Industry: A Review of the Empirical Literature

Abstract

The constant changes typically present in the market along with intense competition force companies to be flexible and adaptable. Firms that operate in the tourism industry need to be well prepared and ready to face challenges that arise on different levels. Managerial and technological innovations can play a significant role in the profitability, sustainable development and longevity of a company. In this respect, this paper aims to analyze the role of innovation, as well as the key elements that affect the capability of a firm to manage innovation (as corporate strategy, organizational structure, management style, employee management, innovation process and knowledge management). To this end, it highlights the importance of the way that a firm is directed in order to enhance its performance and maintain its competitive advantage in the market. Some of the results show that the proper style of management, appropriate personnel and a pleasant working environment characterized by collaboration among employees and managers enhance the possibilities of a firm to increase innovation. Moreover, some managerial implications are also proposed to assist managers of firms in the tourist industry to create appropriate strategies. Since managers are positive and support innovation in all aspects of the firm, this may also enhance the use of technology, which will give tourism firms increased opportunity to enlarge their market share. In addition, our study accentuates the roles of ICT, social media, mobile phones and smartphones, websites, as well as multimedia, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and several other technological advances in the tourism industry, which have helped to develop operations and transform the process of travelling to a much more pleasant and efficient experience. Within this framework of the essential role of managerial and technological innovations in tourism, our study aims to provide an extensive review of the empirical studies that have been conducted to investigate these issues.

Developing a Sustainable Tourism Village Model: An Exploratory Study

“…The application of good management will influence the potential for the development of the tourism business as well as increase in business scale and performance to support a business so that it can grow and be sustainable. Managerial innovation in the form of leadership, organizational structure, corporate strategy, knowledge management and technological innovation in the form of using ICT, social media, internet/websites, smart phones, are types of innovation that need to be implemented in e-tourism management so that it can be sustainable (Giotis & Papadionysiou, 2022).…”

“…According to Bibuljica (2014), tourism and management are closely related concepts, and without the strategic approach to management in tourism, tourism will not progress and develop. Changes in the external environment and changes in market needs (tourists) demand that tourism objects need to implement tourism management so that they can adapt and have a competitive advantage (Giotis & Papadionysiou, 2022).…”

“…Recently, several studies have begun to highlight the importance of implementing professional management in managing tourist destinations towards sustainability. The development of tourism which is only based on CBT or SE is considered insufficient if it is not accompanied by the application of good management practices and proper business processes (Barišic & Maric, 2012;Bibuljica, 2014;Giotis & Papadionysiou, 2022).…”

Heritage Enhancement through Digital Tools for Sustainable Fruition—A Conceptual Framework

“…Studies on developments in information and communication technologies (ICT) related to tourism and sustainability goals have highlighted the strengths and risks, as well as the need for more critical evaluations of the implications of the ICT economy [37,38].…”

Tourism Innovation in the Adriatic-Ionian Region: Questioning the Understanding of Innovation

“…Also, there are, e.g., in Finland innovative methods in cooperative, collaborative processes connecting local needs and creating a new social value of the destination towards holistic, multi sectoral tourism development (Partanen and Sarkki, 2021). Innovations in tourism are also found in managerial knowledge and skills in the phase of operationalization and organization but also in elaboration development strategies and plans (Giotis and Papadionysiou, 2022), which can to a considerable extent contribute to the efficiency of business. Furthermore, researches point out to the need of investment into innovations in tourism concerning the economics of experience and behaviour culture of consumes as well as knowledge sharing .…”