Digital Economy Business Models as Factors of Structural Change in the Tourist Market – State of Research

Abstract

Purpose. Identifying the research gap in the area of tourism business models (MB) and formulating a research programme to analyse structural changes within the tourism market. Method. Review and synthesis of publications from the EBSCO, Emerald Insight, ProQuest, Science Direct and Web of Science databases, devoted to tourism MB in the years 2000-2018. Identification of common topics and identification of research gaps. Findings. The research topics most frequently undertaken were: 1) MB configurations in the areas of tourism and hotel industry, transport, brokerage services and e-commerce; 2) analysis of value types; 3) sustainability of the business model; 4) susceptibility to the impact of technology; (5) role of formal and legal environment. Research and conclusion limitations. The scope of analysis was limited to the mentioned databases and a review of scientific articles in English. Industry reports were omitted as not meeting the methodological requirements of scientific works, despite the fact that they illustrate the phenomenon of the emergence of new entities in tourism and the disappearance of the borders of markets, industries and entities. Practical implications. Operationalisation of the MB concept and the answer to the question, what is the real source of the crisis of the industries and entities of the tourist market, will lead to avoiding improper solutions. Despite statutory changes aimed at ensuring equal legal conditions for the functioning of tourism economy entities, differences resulting from different MB effectiveness and failure to recognise structural changes limiting the chances for development and flexible response to environmental conditions persist. Originality. In the article, it is indicated how scientists operationalise the MB concept and perceive the conditions for its modification. Together with the established directions of further research, this will allow to create a common conceptual basis and systematise knowledge resources useful in research on MB tourism market. Type of paper. Research paper.