KNOWLEDGE SPILLOVERS WITHIN THE ALGARVE TOURISM REGION. EVIDENCE TO IDENTIFY A REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM

Mauricio Maldonado () and Teresa Noronha Vaz
Additional contact information
Mauricio Maldonado: University of Chile, Postal: Geography, University of Chile, Liber Bernardo O'Higgins 1058, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, http://www.uchile.cl/english
Teresa Noronha Vaz: University of Algarve, Postal: Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal, http://www.cieo.pt/
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Teresa de Noronha

No 2015-4, Spatial and Organizational Dynamics Discussion Papers from CIEO-Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, University of Algarve

Abstract: Studies of local knowledge spillovers have often focused on empirical evidence for core regions, and been related largely to manufacturing, neglecting behavior in less innovative economic sectors in peripheral regions. Tourism in the Algarve region is the main engine of its regional economy. Although frequently considered as a low-moderate innovative sector, competitive tourism firms are becoming increasingly Knowledge Intensive, which may create positive advantages for regional growth. This may improve conditions for the creation and diffusion of knowledge, with cooperative and collaborative interaction contributing to the consolidation of a regional innovation system (RIS). The goal of this study is to provide preliminary evidence of the main sources and vehicles of regional knowledge spillovers affecting tourism firms in the Algarve, generally considered to be a peripheral region. The main sources of knowledge used by micro and small tourism firms (MSTF) are human resources and formal and informal networks. This study detected specific features of a regional innovation platform which, eventually, may give way to a RIS.

Keywords: Tourism; Innovation; Knowledge Spillover; Knowledge Intensive Services; Regional Innovation System; Algarve Region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: P25 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 15 pages
Date: 2015-05-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-geo, nep-ino, nep-knm, nep-sbm, nep-tur and nep-ure
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:cieodp:2015_004

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