ABSTRACT
This chapter examines two different aspects of tourism development in the context of mountain tourism destinations. First, there is an increasing awareness that the development of destinations is shaped by the ability to innovate. Second, destinations differ in their technological, socio-cultural, natural, political and legal environments, and these different characteristics influence their competitiveness and development. The chapter develops a theoretical model and to better understands the relationships between tourism development, innovativeness and destination environments. It focuses on the relationships between mountain destination development, their environments and innovativeness in order to recommend actions for qualitative and quantitative destination maintenance and development. Innovations are needed to provide the flexibility to face the challenges imposed by the environment. The chapter builds on research regarding the key indicators of tourism development, innovativeness and environments for mountain tourism destinations.
