Destination social capital and innovation in SMEs tourism firms: an empirical analysis in an adverse socio-economic context

Abstract

This study examines the structural relationships between internal and external resources that explain the innovation of small tourism firms in adverse socio-economic contexts. Specifically, it analyzes two internal resources, human and organizational-technological capital, and the valuable intangible resources derived from social interactions between the agents in the destination (other companies, institutions, and community). The research hypotheses are tested by means of structural equation analysis applied to an empirical study of 180 tourism firms located in Isla Margarita (Venezuela). The findings confirm the importance of external resources derived from relationships with destination agents in the innovation behavior of tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While business social capital affects innovative behavior directly, other types of internal intellectual capital mediate the relationship between innovative behavior and institutional and community social capital. It is the first to address the local community’s role in the innovation of tourism SMEs. The importance of integrating firm and destination resources should inform SMEs’ innovation policies in adverse contexts where the scarcity of resources make vulnerable the economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Keywords:

• Innovation
• social capital
• intellectual capital
• tourism SMEs
• tourism destination
• adverse context

Additional information

Notes on contributors

María-Angeles Rastrollo-Horrillo

María-Angeles Rastrollo-Horrillo is an associate professor and member of the University Research Institute of Tourist Intelligence and Innovation (i3t) at the University of Málaga, Spain. Her main research interests include tourism and innovation, competitiveness of coastal destinations, tourism governance and socio-economic approach to management. She has participated in over 45 competitive research projects funded by public and private institutions, and she is author of several scientific papers, books, and chapters of books in topics related to her main research interests.

Mayra Rivero Díaz

Mayra Rivero Díaz is an assistant professor in tourism at the University of Oriente. She is a tourism entrepreneur and practitioner and has contributed “as president of a network of tourism (redNETur)” to the development of social and community projects, promoting the formation of tourism entrepreneurship in Isla Margarita. Her research interests are mainly focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, social capital and tourism development.