Business Modeling for Resilient Destination Development: A Multi-Method Approach for the Case of Destination Franconia, Germany

ABSTRACT

Crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can be an opportunity to re-think destination business models. Developing resilience can guide destinations through times of uncertainty and into innovative transformation. This study was a multi-method approach, in which exploratory interviews and the Delphi survey were vital for understanding multi-stakeholder involvement. This case study on Destination Franconia investigated the changes during the COVID-19 pandemic while considering the factors involved in developing a resilient destination business model. The results highlighted a mix of established values and innovations in business models, which included a “bounce-forward” ability, a resilience approach that accounted for continuous adaptation to disturbances and crises. Our findings showed that raising awareness through sharing information and a common destination strategy were essential to promote destination resilience. Finally, we introduced a threefold understanding of resilient destination development as change-driver, target, and competence.

KEYWORDS:

• Business modeling
• innovation
• destination resilience
• DMO
• destination development
• COVID-19 pandemic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The abbreviation following the quotation refers to the individual sense units contained in the analysis of the interviews with GABEK®.

Additional information

Funding

The study was conducted by the Chair of Tourism / Center for Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU) in cooperation with the Tourist Board of Franconia. The project was supported by the Bavarian Center for Tourism and funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. We thank all partners, interviewees and participants for their vital cooperation.