ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses innovation and the need of specific competences related to innovation in tourism. It presents the tourism product with its peculiarities and specific features. The book provides an introduction to the theoretical background. It presents examples of how tourism businesses and destinations combine and reconfigure resources and competences to develop innovations and how they compete in dynamic markets. The book provides insights into innovation theories and the resource-based view of strategic management. It presents results of a case study analysis focusing on resources and competences which are strategically relevant to develop successful innovation. The book focuses on innovation activities in the hospitality industry. It introduces a theoretical model to understand and explores the relationships between tourism developments, innovativeness and destination environments in mountain tourism destinations. It outlines the relationships between different areas of innovation and different business strategies.
