Reflections on the outcomes

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to profile the experiences of the theme editor and the writing team of Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) theme issue “What should Indian tourism and hospitality managers focus on to stay competitive in the coming decade?” Design/methodology/approach This paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editor to reflect on the rationale for the theme issue question, the starting point, the selection of the writing team and material and the editorial process. Findings This paper identifies key issues shaping the Indian tourism and hospitality industry and some of the implications for managers. It also identifies ways of improving competitiveness and some of the ways in which the Indian Government (at national and state levels) is investing in and facilitating community-focussed tourism development. Practical implications The theme issue outcomes provide lines of enquiry for others to explore and reinforce the value of WHATT’s approach to collaborative working and writing. Originality/value This paper draws on discussion and applied research with industry to identify and assess the likely impact of innovation, information technology, social media and related developments on tourism and hospitality industry development in India. The theme issue collection of this paper provides a rich picture of the occurring changes and prospects for the future.