The method and scope of open innovation exchange in tourist destinations – Analysis of the opinions of tourism experts from Prague and Cracow

Abstract

The concept of open innovations has enjoyed significant popularity among both researchers and management practitioners for two decades, as evidenced by numerous research papers and case studies. The progressive development of the concept also applies to the tourism industry, which, faced with problems and changing expectations of tourists, needs to implement innovative solutions not only at the enterprise level, but taking into account all stakeholders of the tourist destination. The purpose of the article is to identify the opinions of tourism experts towards the prospect of knowledge sharing in open innovations and the differences in approaches to this issue. The results of the research are discussed in two comparative dimensions, dividing the experts into representatives of a specific tourist destination (Prague and Cracow) and representatives of the public and private sectors. Experts from two similar tourist destinations differ in their opinions, both in terms of the way they approach the implementation of the concept of open innovations in the city, as well as the scope of application of the implemented innovations. On the other hand, the differences in opinions of representatives representing the public and private sectors of the tourism industry coincide – although they do not resolve whether it should be a bottom-up or top-down initiative, they unequivocally indicate that the implementation of open innovations should involve all stakeholders in a tourism destination. The authors also put forward a proposal to create innovation exchange centers as part of the activities of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), supported by the local administration of the tourist destination.