Unpacking the geography of tourism innovation in Western Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Abstract. This paper interrogates the geography of tourism innovation in the Western Cape, South Africa. In particular, innovations by tourism firms are mapped and local tourism innovation networks are analysed. Networking behaviour is examined since it is regarded as indispensable for accessing knowledge and learning for innovation purposes. The analysis draws on a broader investigation of tourism innovation and networking within the Western Cape province. It is revealed that the main tourist regions in the Western Cape are also the most innovative. Whilst external networking relations are observed to be highly significant for tourism innovation, local embeddedness remains critical for stimulating path creation and exploiting local core competencies for the competitiveness and survival of tourism firms and destinations.

The impact of localized innovations on the stock returns of tourism companies

“…It was confirmed that the main tourism regions seem to be more innovative than peripheral areas. This corresponds with the finding that more urbanized places are often where larger (and thus more innovative) companies are located (Booyens & Rogerson, 2016). This is in line with the effects of agglomeration on urban economies (Booyens & Rogerson, 2016;Cooke & de Propris, 2011).…”

“…This corresponds with the finding that more urbanized places are often where larger (and thus more innovative) companies are located (Booyens & Rogerson, ). This is in line with the effects of agglomeration on urban economies (Booyens & Rogerson, ; Cooke & de Propris, ). However, the tourism industry in rural areas often has significant impact on innovative local development (Brouder, ).…”

“…Geographical studies on tourism innovation have been conducted on local or regional scales (e.g., Booyens & Rogerson, 2016;Brouder, 2012;Mulligan et al, 2017;Sørensen, 2007), rather than on national or international ones. This is in line with the general tendency of economic geography research on innovation (Oinas & Malecki, 2002) and with the overall tendency of tourism innovation studies (Weidenfeld & Hall, 2014).…”

Are different types of interfirm linkages conducive to different types of tourism innovation?

“…Distinguishing between these various innovation types in practice is challenging as innovations are often bundled together, particularly in the tourism industry (Booyens & Rogerson, ): Innovation in one area requires or leads to subsequent innovations in others (Barras, ). Therefore, this paper follows the classification by Hjalager (), who has elaborated how to adapt the existing innovation typologies discussed above specifically for investigating innovation types within the tourism industry: product, process, managerial, marketing, and institutional innovations (Table ).…”

A New Measure of the Quality of Tourism Product

“…in that placing tourists in the centre of the initial development stage of products and tourism markets in the final stage of this process, aiming to increase exportation earnings (Blasco, Guia & Prats, 2014;Bohlin, Brandt & Elbe, 2016). To Booyens and Rogerson (2016), it is also necessary to combine local and non-local, tangible and intangible resources, such as: knowledge (tacit, technical and scientific), technology, professional experience and other personal and professional skills, fundamental for the innovation of products and services. Offering a tourism experience relies on a type of creative tourism that sets innovation at the centre of product development, thus responding to changing demand motivations.…”