European smart specialisation strategies (RIS3): catalysts for tourism innovations?

Abstract

This article examines the issue of innovation in the tourism sector, emphasising its crucial role in the transformation of the tourist offer within European regions. Faced with territorial disparities in terms of tourism innovations, we examine the impact of Regional Innovation and Smart Specialization Strategies (RIS3) on the deployment of tourism innovation. By analysing the 2014-2020 program through a three-step action research study, we identify a positive correlation between RIS3 initiatives and innovation in the tourism industry. However, RIS3 seem to be a necessary but not sufficient condition to stimulate innovation.

Keywords

• innovation
• smart specialisation
• smart destination
• quintuple helix model