Asymmetries in the Drivers of Tourism Coopetition in Craft Centres

Abstract:

This research aimed to identify the asymmetries in the variables inducing coopetition in productive and commercial handicrafts arrangements and, to define the manager's priorities to improve the performance of the coopetition network. The article demonstrates the use of decision matrices for tourism research and management. It uses a set of methodologies that can be replicated in other contexts. It is a quantitative research using Importance-Performance Analysis matrix, Penalty-Recompensation Contrast Analysis, Impact Asymmetry Analysis. The results indicated that participants' profile variables have greater importance for horizontal coopetition network formation than context variables. To activate the willingness to coopetition in the participants of productive clusters, the elements related to management of the productive arrangement are neutral, those related to individual capabilities of the network participants are attractive, and those related to the products offered are mandatory or one-dimensional. The penalty indexes are higher than the reward indexes in most of the elements, therefore, changes in the variables impact a lot on the demotivation of the members, while motivating them towards coopetition will require more effort from the manager. This study contributed a list of variables to boost coopetition, as well as the elements that should receive priority from managers of local productive clusters.

Keywords:
Tourism coopetition; Asymmetries; Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA); Penalty-Reward Contrast Analysis (PRCA); Co-location; Productive arrangements of handicraft