Séance 2 - Séminaire sur les modèles et méthodes de recherche en sciences économiques

Sylvain PETIT (LARSH-UPHF)
"Innovation dynamics in tourism: Insights from European SMES"

European tourism economies have undergone significant transformations driven by the adoption of new information technologies, globalization, deregulation, and intensified competition. In this context, innovation emerges as a crucial factor for the competitiveness and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) sectors. This study evaluates the level of innovation in European T&H firms compared to other economic sectors, utilizing data from the European Community Survey (ECS) encompassing all European countries. Innovations are categorized into three types: product, process, and marketing. The results indicate that T&H firms exhibit slightly lower levels of innovation compared to other sectors, particularly in marketing innovations, suggesting a greater tendency to adapt existing innovations rather than develop entirely new solutions. Additionally, specific determinants influencing the innovative capacity of T&H SMEs are identified, such as female leadership, the adoption of information technologies, and a focus on quality. Robustness checks confirm the consistency of these findings, highlighting the need for differentiated innovation strategies within T&H subsectors. This study contributes to filling the existing empirical gap on innovation in the European tourism sector and offers recommendations for managerial recommendations to enhance innovation capacity and competitiveness.