Stakeholder Engagement and Triggers for Sustainable Development in Complex Fragile Ecosystems: Evidence from Alpine Trentino Region

Samuele Maccioni (), Francesca d’Angella, Manuela De Carlo and Bruno Sfogliarini
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Samuele Maccioni: Department of Human Sciences for Education “Riccardo Massa”, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
Francesca d’Angella: Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumption, IULM University, 20143 Milano, Italy
Manuela De Carlo: Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumption, IULM University, 20143 Milano, Italy
Bruno Sfogliarini: Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumption, IULM University, 20143 Milano, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-27

Abstract: This research digs into the dynamics of sustainable development in complex fragile ecosystems, with a focus on the Trentino alpine region in Northern Italy to identify the main triggers to foster it. In particular, this study emphasizes the critical role that Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) play in leveraging these triggers and designing sustainable development strategies. Using a Convergent Parallel Mixed Method that combines quantitative and qualitative data, this study identifies three strategies for stakeholder engagement—listen, meet, and collaborate—to align numerous actors towards common goals and encourage sustainable behaviors. Moreover, the results highlight the need to engage fringe stakeholders in sustainable destination development strategies. It also reveals the function of ‘triggers’—both internal and external—in implementing stakeholder engagement strategies. This research contributes to the literature by mapping stakeholders (core and fringe), suggesting three engagement strategies (listen, meet, and collaborate), and identifying triggers (internal and external) for destination sustainable development in complex fragile ecosystems.

Keywords: stakeholder engagement; triggers; complex fragile ecosystems; destination management organizations; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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