Touristic SME’s Competitiveness in the Light of Present Challenges—A Qualitative Approach

Daniel Adrian Gârdan, Ionel Dumitru, Iuliana Petronela Gârdan and Carmen Adina Paștiu
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Daniel Adrian Gârdan: Economic Sciences Department, Spiru Haret University, 030045 Bucharest, Romania
Ionel Dumitru: Marketing Department, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010404 Bucharest, Romania
Iuliana Petronela Gârdan: Economic Sciences Department, Spiru Haret University, 030045 Bucharest, Romania
Carmen Adina Paștiu: Department of Business Administration and Marketing, “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Carmen Adina Pastiu

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Competitiveness of SMEs (Small or Medium Enterprise) within the tourism field has been of a great interest for many scholars over time. Due to the crisis conditions specific to the present time, the issue of competitiveness becomes a very sensitive one, giving rise to sometimes contradictory points of view. Our research aims to analyze the opinions and perceptions of SME managers in the field of tourism in terms of the concept of competitiveness, how to measure it and sources of competitiveness still viable within the context of the current crisis or specific to it, etc. In order to be able to properly analyze the above, qualitative research was initiated and conducted in the form of an in-depth interview with 42 Romanian SME managers in the tourism field. The results of the study reflect a mature approach of managers in terms of possible new sources of competitiveness—the emphasis on technical solutions capable of managing the socio-medical dimensions of tourism consumer behavior, a prevalence for an organic growth strategy and for additional investments in qualified personnel, as well as online management of most aspects related to services and openness to collaboration within tourism clusters.

Keywords: competitive advantages of SMEs; touristic SME’s competitiveness; in-depth interview; organic strategy; crisis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:9191-:d:440234

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