You are here

Innovation in tourism companies, where are they and where are they going? An approach to the state of knowledge

Journal Name:

Publication Year:

DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.3926/ic.778
Abstract (2. Language): 
Purpose: This paper makes a literature review in order to analyze the current state of innovation in tourism companies and know the future research lines on the subject. Design/methodology: The study chose a content analysis, which purpose was to examine the scientific journal articles about tourism, business management and economic-administrative studies, considering ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis, EBSCOHost and REDALYC databases. The procedure involves filtering papers based on criteria of relevance as addressing the issue and current facts (texts inscribed in the period 2008-2015). As a result 78 publications based on bibliographic content matrices were analyzed and classified according to their thematic profile. Moreover, a search for bases outside the above data was done, in order to know the situation of tourism companies in the Mexican context. Findings: The review shows that papers are concentrated in six broad categories: a) organizational innovation, b) innovation strategies, c) innovation in products and processes, d) technological innovation, e) knowledge management in innovation and f) innovation models. Most studies are given in the context of hotels and restaurants; showing that innovation in tourism companies is an emerging theme study that will strengthen the development and competitiveness of the sector itself. Originality/value: It represents an innovative contribution by providing information on how it has been addressed the issue of innovation in the context of tourism companies -restaurants and hotels-, besides provides an overview of research conducted in Mexico on the topic, being of interest to the companies and academic community.
1088
1155

JEL Codes:

REFERENCES

References: 

Aguilar, G., Herrera, L., & Clemenza, C. (2012). Capacidad de absorción en operadores turísticos:
Estructura y determinantes de éxito en marketing y en la innovación. Omnia, 18 (3), 106-128.
Albors, J., Barreto, V., García, P., Martínez, J., & Hervás, J.L. (2013). Creativity and innovation patterns
of haute cuisine chefs. Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 11(1), 19-35.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15428052.2012.728978
Albu, C.E. (2015). Tourism: Innovation and competitivity. The case of Egypt. Journal of Tourism - Studies
and Research in Tourism, 19(19), 54-59.
Aramendia, M.E., & Ollo, A. (2013). ICT Impact on tourism industry. International Journal of Management
Cases, 15(2), 87-98.
Barbosa, B.M., & Dominique, S. (2012). Innovación en los procesos. Diferenciación en los servicios
turísticos. Estudios y Perspectivas en Turismo, 21(4), 963-976.
Bascavusoglu, E., Kopera, S., & Wszendyby, E. (2013). The role of creativity in development of
innovation in tourism. Journal of Entrepreneurship Management and Innovation, 9(1), 5-15.
Berné, C., García, M., García, M.E., & Múgica, J.M. (2011). La influencia de las TIC en la estructura del
sistema de distribución turística. Cuadernos de Turismo, 28, 9-22.
Calderón, M.G., & Hartmann, D. (2010). Una revisión del pensamiento evolucionista y el enfoque de
los sistemas de innovación. Una perspectiva del caso latinoamericano. Revista Universitaria Digital de
Ciencias Sociales, 1(1), 2-18.
Caro, M.J., Leyva, C.E., & Vela, R. (2011). Calidad de las tecnologías de la información y competitividad
en los hoteles de la península de Yucatán. Contaduría y Administración, (235), 121-146.
Ceballos, S., Narváez, M., & Cuellar, J. (2011). La innovación en las microempresas restauranteras de la
Costa Yucateca. XIII Congreso Nacional y VII Internacional de Investigación Turística SECTUR/ICTUR, 1-
13.
Cerezo, A., & Guevara, A. (2015). Necesidades formativas tecnológicas en turismo. Estudio de caso:
Andalucía. PASOS Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 13(4), 913-929.
Chen, W.J. (2011). Innovation in hotel services: Culture and personality. International Journal of Hospitality
Management, 30, 64-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2010.07.006 Čivre, Ž., & Gomezelj, D. (2015). The behaviour of tourism firms in the area of innovativeness.
Economic Research - Ekonomska Istraživanja, 28(1), 312-330.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2015.1043778
Corona, E., & Zárraga, L. (2014). La innovación como factor de competitividad en las empresas
turísticas en Cancún, Quintana Roo, México. Revista Internacional de Administración & Finanzas, 7(6),
15-25.
Corona, E., Zárraga, L., & Ruíz, J.G. (2015). Innovación en el sector turismo de Cancún: Evidencias
empíricas. Revista Internacional de Administración & Finanzas, 4, 95-105.
Cruz, M.L., & Puente, R. (2012). ¿Hay verdadera innovación en los lanzamientos de nuevos productos?
Factores relevantes de éxito y fracaso en el caso colombiano. Estudios Gerenciales, 28 (Especial),
263-280.
Damian, I.E., & Suárez, M.F. (2015). Innovación de procesos en la gestión turística: Una revisión de la
literatura. Intangible Capital, 11(2), 147-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.3926/ic.530
Den Hertog, P., Gallouj, F., & Segers, J. (2011). Measuring innovation in a ‘low-tech’ service industry:
the case of the Dutch hospitality industry. The Service Industries Journal, 31(9), 1429-1449.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02642060903576084
Díaz, J., Tamayo, J., & Cabral, R. (2011). Problemática percibida en la gestión del negocio por
MIPYMES restauranteras de Playa del Carmen, México. XIII Congreso Nacional y VII Internacional de
Investigación Turística SECTUR/ICTUR, 1-11.
Dibraa, M. (2015). Rogers theory on diffusion of innovation - the most appropriate theoretical model
in the study of factors influencing the integration of sustainability in tourism businesses. Procedia -
Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 1453-1462. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.06.443
Dornan, D'A., & Moufakki, O. (2015). A review and reflection on innovation in tourism and hospitality
in English language journal publications. Revue Management et Avenir, 76, 121-137.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3917/mav.076.0121
Dwyer, L., & Edwards, D. (2009). Tourism product and service innovation to avoid ‘strategic drift’.
International Journal of Tourism Research, 11, 321-335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jtr.690
Eriksen, S.N. (2015). Experience innovation for Small Food and Tourism Firms. Scandinavian Journal of
Hospitality and Tourism, 15(1), 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2015.1060721 Farsani, N.T., Sadeghi, R., Shafiei, Z., & Sichani, A.S. (2015). Measurement of satisfaction with ICT
services implementation and innovation in restaurants (Case study: Isfahan, Iran). Journal of Travel &
Tourism Marketing, 1, 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2015.1050540
Fraj, E., Matute, J., & Melero, I. (2015). Environmental strategies and organizational competitiveness in
the hotel industry: The role of learning and innovation as determinants of environmental success.
Tourism Management, 46, 30-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.05.009
Gallouj, C., & Leroux, E. (2011). E-tourisme, innovation et modes d’organisation. Revue Management et
Avenir, 42, 213-231. http://dx.doi.org/10.3917/mav.042.0213
Gálvez, E.J. (2011). Cultura intraemprendedora e innovación: Un estudio empírico en las MYPIME
turísticas colombianas. Cuadernos de Administración, 27(46), 103-114.
Gálvez, E.J., & García, D. (2012). Impacto de la innovación sobre el rendimiento de la mipyme: Un
estudio empírico en Colombia. Estudios Gerenciales, 28(122), 11-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0123-
5923(12)70191-2
Găzdac, R.M. (2009). Turism si tehnologie. Review of Management & Economic Engineering, 8(3), 147-153.
Gökovalı, U., & Avcı, M. (2012). The role of human capital and collaboration with academia for
innovation in hospitality sector: the case of Mugla. PASOS Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural,
10(2), 77-84.
Gomezelj, D. (2015). Innovativeness in Tourism: Model Development. Procedia Economics and Finance, 23,
750-756. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)00550-X
González, R. (2011). La innovación abierta en las empresas turísticas extremeñas como herramienta de
entrada en el turismo de negocios. PASOS Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 9(4), 489-502.
Grissemann, U., Plank, A., & Brunner, A. (2013). Enhancing business performance of hotels: The role
of innovation and customer orientation. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 33, 347-356.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2012.10.005
Hjalager, A.M. (2002). Repairing innovation defectiveness in tourism. Tourism Management, 23, 465-474.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(02)00013-4
Hjalager, A.M. (2010). A review of innovation research in tourism. Tourism Management, 31, 1-12.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2009.08.012
Iordache, C. (2015). Innovation in tourism - between desideratum, development and braking. Strategic
policy innovation. Romanian Journal of Marketing, 1, 51-66. Iorgulescu, M.C., & Sidonia, A. (2013). Measuring managers´ perception of innovation in Rumania
hospitality industry. Procedia Economics and Finance, 6, 512-522. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2212-
5671(13)00169-X
Ivars, J.A., Vera, J.F., & Acebal, A. (2014). Políticas de innovación en turismo y clusters: La percepción
gerencial en el programa agrupaciones empresariales innovadoras (AESi). Cuadernos de Turismo, 33,
97-120.
Krizaj, D., Brodnik, A., & Bukovec, B. (2014). A tool for measurement of innovation newness and
adoption in tourism firms. International Journal of Tourism Research, 16, 113-125.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jtr.1905
Lin, C.H., Chiu, Y.H., & Huang, C.W. (2012). Assessment of technology gaps of tourist hotels in
productive and service processes. The Service Industries Journal, 32(14), 2329-2342.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2011.593170
López, M.C., Serrano, A.M., & Gómez, R. (2009). La decisión de innovar de las empresas turísticas: Un
análisis empírico de la industria hostelera. Investigaciones Europeas de Dirección y Economía de la Empresa,
15(3), 176-183.
Lu, I. Y., & Tseng, C. J. (2010). A study of the service innovation activities of tourist hotels in Taiwan.
International Journal of Organizational Innovation, 3(1), 156-172.
Martínez, A.M., & Vargas, A. (2013). Factores con un especial impacto en el nivel de innovación del
sector hotelero español. Tourism & Management Studies, 9(2), 7-12.
Martínez, J.A., Tamayo, J.A., Gamero, J., & Romero, J.E. (2015). Innovativeness and business
performances in tourism SMEs. Annals of Tourism Research, 54, 118-135.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.07.004
Melo, P., & Meira, R. (2014). Implementação de ações inovadoras e empreendedorismo: Estudo de
múltiplos casos em empresas hoteleiras de pequeno porte. Caderno Virtual de Turismo, 14(2), 183-203.
Miltchev, R., & Neykova, M. (2015). The impact of technological innovations on the sustainability of
the e-business systems of organizations operating in the tourism sector. Tourism in Southern and
Eastern Europe, 3, 223-233.
Monagas, M. (2012). El capital intelectual y la gestión del conocimiento. Ingeniería Industrial, 33(2),
142-150.Najda, M., & Kopera, S. (2014). Exploring barriers to innovation in tourism industry – the case of
southern region of Poland. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 110, 190-201.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.862
Nicolau, J.L., & Santa, M.J. (2013). The effect of innovation on hotel market value. International Journal
of Hospitality Management, 32, 71-79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2012.04.005
Nieves, J., & Segarra, M. (2015). Management innovation in the hotel industry. Tourism Management, 46,
51-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.06.002
Nieves, J., Quintana, A., & Osorio, J. (2014). Knowledge-based resources and innovation in the hotel
industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 38, 65-73.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2014.01.001
Ottenbacher, M.C., & Harrington, R J. (2008a). The culinary innovation process. A study of Michelinstarred
chefs. Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 5(4), 9-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J385v05n04_02
Ottenbacher, M.C., & Harrington, R.J. (2008b). U.S. and German culinary innovation processes:
Differences in involvement and other factors. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 11(4), 412-438.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15378020802519819
Ottenbacher, M.C., & Harrington, R.J. (2009). Institutional, cultural and contextual factors: Potential
drivers of the culinary innovation process. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 9(3), 235-249.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/thr.2009.8
Pace, L.A. (2015). How do tourism firms innovate for sustainable energy consumption? A capabilities
perspective on the adoption of energy efficiency in tourism accommodation establishments. Journal
of Cleaner Production, 39, 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.01.095
Pansiri, J., & Courvisanos, J. (2010). Attitude to risk in technology-based strategic alliances for tourism.
International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 11(3), 275-302.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15256480.2010.498283
Parng, B.C., Chen, M.K., & Chung, T.T. (2014). Innovation and alliance effects for tourism industry in
Taiwan. International Journal of Organizational Innovation, 6(3), 199-209.
Pellegrin, F., & Leszczyńska, D. (2013). Dynamic tourism supply chain assembly: A new lever for
managerial innovation. Supply Chain Forum: International Journal, 14(1), 28-40.Perez, A., Leal, V., Barceló, M., & León, J.A. (2013). Un diagnóstico de la gestión del conocimiento en
las pymes del sector restaurantero para identificar áreas de mejora en sus procesos productivos.
Intangible Capital, 9(1), 153-183. http://dx.doi.org/10.3926/ic.381
Pesonen, J., & Horster, E. (2012). Near field communication technology in tourism. Tourism Management
Perspectives, 4, 11-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2012.04.001
Ponce, A.A., & Alabart, Y. (2015). Programa de gestión del conocimiento para el área de cocina de un
hotel. Retos Turísticos, 14(2), 1-15.
Puccio, H., & Grana, N. (2008). La innovación como requisito de la competitividad turística. Una
metodología para su descripción y análisis. Gestión Turística, 10, 59-76.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4206/gest.tur.2008.n10-05
Rivero, M., & Rastrollo, M.Á. (2013). Innovación, capital intelectual y capital social territorial: Enfoques
clave para el éxito de la empresa turística en el nuevo entorno socio económico. Revista Venezolana de
Economía Social, 13(25), 9-33.
Rodríguez, F. (2009). Una reflexión teórica sobre la innovación en el sector turismo. Revista Nicolaita de
Estudios Económicos, 6(2), 9-26.
Rodríguez, F., & Andrade, M.A. (2011). Método para la valuación empírica del proceso de innovación
en los establecimientos de servicios turísticos. Revista Nicolaita de Estudios Económicos, 6(1), 63-86.
Rodríguez, F., & Andrade, M.A. (2012). Valuación diagnóstica de la innovación en el sector hotelero de
Michoacán, México. Revista Nicolaita de Estudios Económicos, 7(1), 25-45.
Rodríguez, F., & Bedolla, J. (2010). Una propuesta de conceptualización del proceso de innovación en
los servicios turísticos desde la visión evolucionista de la firma. Revista Nicolaita de Estudios Económicos,
5(1), 89-109.
Rodríguez, F., & Brown F. (2012). El proceso de innovación en el sector de alojamiento turístico
mexicano. Estudios y Perspectivas en Turismo, 21(3), 372-387.
Ruiz, M.E., Gil, I., & Berenguer, G. (2014). Information and communication technology as a
differentiation tool in restaurants. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 17(5), 410-428.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15378020.2014.967639
Rusu, S., Isac, F., & Cureteanu, R. (2013). Innovation, tourism and entrepreneurship. Lucrari Stiintifice,
15(4), 187-190.Sánchez, Y., García, F., & Mendoza, J.E. (2015). La capacidad de innovación y su relación con el
emprendimiento en las regiones de México. Estudios Gerenciales, 31(136), 243-252.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.estger.2015.04.001
Shaw, G., & Williams, A. (2009). Knowledge transfer and management in tourism organisations: An
emerging research agenda. Tourism Management, 30, 325-335.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2008.02.023
Simaro, J.D., Tonelli, O.E., & Carús, L. (2012). Gestión de intangibles en PyMES turísticas. Un caso de
aplicación de las directrices MERITUM. Estudios y Perspectivas en Turismo, 21, 249-269.
Souto, J.E. (2015). Business model innovation and business concept innovation as the context of
incremental innovation and radical innovation. Tourism Management, 51, 142-155.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2015.05.017
Stilling, B. (2009). Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Tourism: The Case of a Danish Caravan Site.
PASOS Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 7(3), 415-431.
Tejada, P., & Moreno, P. (2013). Patterns of innovation in tourism ‘small and medium-size enterprises’.
The Service Industries Journal, 33(7-8), 749-758. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2013.740469
Teodorescu, N., Stăncioiu, A.F., Răvar, A.S., & Boto , A. (2015). Creativity and ș innovation - Sources of
competitive advantage in the value chain of tourism enterprises. Theoretical and Applied Economics,
22(1), 35-48.
Thomas, R., & Wood, E. (2014). Innovation in tourism: Re-conceptualising and measuring the
absorptive capacity of the hotel sector. Tourism Management, 45, 39-48.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.03.012
Torrent, J., Ficapal, P., Boada, J., & Vigil, A. (2015). Information and communication technology, coinnovation,
and perceived productivity in tourism small and medium enterprises: an exploratory
analysis. Current Issues in Tourism. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2015.1029878
Torres, C., & De la Fuente, H. (2011). Determinantes de la innovación en empresas de turismo en
Pucón - Chile. Panorama Socioeconómico, 29(42), 24-42.
Tsenga, M.L., Lin, Y.H., Lim, M.K., & Teehankee, B.L. (2015). Using a hybrid method to evaluate
service innovation in the hotel industry. Applied Soft Computing, 28, 411-421.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2014.11.048 Tüzünkan, D., & Albayrak, A. (2015). Research about moleculer cuisine application as an innovation.
Example in Istanbul restaurants. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 446-452.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.06.487
Velázquez, J.A., & Vargas, E.E. (2014). Ecoinnovación en turismo: Una aproximación al estado de la
cuestión. Gestión y Ambiente, 17(1), 197-201.
Velázquez, J.A., & Vargas, E.E. (2015a). De la innovación a la ecoinnovación. Gestión de servicios en
cadenas hoteleras. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia, 20(70), 268-281.
Velázquez, J.A., & Vargas, E.E. (2015b). Gestión de la innovación: Como alternativa sustentable para las
empresas de servicios. Ide@s CONCYTEG, 10(125), 21-32.
Walsh, M., Lynch, P., & Harrington, D. (2011). A capability-based framework for tourism
innovativeness. Irish Journal of Management, 31(1), 21-41.
Williams, A.M., & Shaw, G. (2011). Internationalization and innovation in tourism. Annals of Tourism
Research, 38(1), 27-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.09.006
Yiu, M., & Law, R. (2014). Review and application of knowledge management and knowledge sharing
in tourism. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 19(7), 737-759.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2013.812128
Zbigniew, Z. (2015). Innovation development in regional tourism enterprises. Tourism in Southern and
Eastern Europe, 3, 489-501.

Thank you for copying data from http://www.arastirmax.com