From intra-regional competition towards intra-regional cooperation in tourism: The concept of Telecooperation and Virtual Enterprises in the regional tourism business

Abstract

Tourism is a complex service business combining many players at the Point of Offer - the tourist destination. Small and medium sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) have to find their way between competition and co-operation within this rapidly changing market. New organisational, technical and work concepts are being discussed within the scientific world as suitable for improving the ability of organisations to respond to fast changing market conditions : (Tele)Co-operation, networks, virtual enterprises. Although the key issues are clear and evident, there are no guidelines for implementing these concepts. The paper gives an introduction to these concepts and presents the situation of SMTEs as analysed through seven tourist destinations in Europe. The paper then gives some examples of what these regions have done in the last twelve months in trying to implement the concepts.