Tourism Destinations and the Concept of Industrial Districts

Abstract

This paper identifies the main characteristics of industrial districts as interdependence of firms; flexible firm boundaries; cooperative competition; trust in sustained collaboration; and a ‘community culture’ with supportive public policies. In spite of the dominance of SMEs and local interdependence, and in spite of the spatial significance of tourism destinations, this type of firm has not been analysed systematically using the concepts and methods of industrial districts. The comparability between tourism destinations and industrial districts is less obvious, especially as regards governance structures. This is also true of the intensified vertical division of labour between regions delivering services to tourists and regions developing such services. However, new trends in consumer preferences, technological developments and environmental prerequisites make the development of some district properties more likely to emerge in tourism destinations in the future. This paper suggests a number of key issues for a research programme.