The Role of Knowledge-Intensive Business Services in Spanish Local Tourist Production Systems

Abstract

This paper analyses the evolution of the knowledge base in local tourist production systems (LTPS) in Spain and of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) and the effects on labour productivity in tourist services. Innovation depends on an enterprise's ability to generate new knowledge and absorb external knowledge, and KIBS are external providers of knowledge. The process ends when the acquired knowledge has an effect on innovation and the impact is reflected in increased productivity. This approach assesses learning through interaction and space. It applies multidimensional scaling to detect associations between variables and LTPS. The results indicate that most changes in productivity are caused by a combination of tacit and codified knowledge, but this differs depending on the LTPS. Labour productivity also increases in the LTPS, which further increases the supply of KIBS.