Innovation and Value Creation in Tourism Entrepreneurship
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61347/psa.v4i1.135Keywords:
Competitiveness, Ecuador, innovation, tourism entrepreneurship, value creationAbstract
The development of digital technologies has transformed value creation across various sectors, including tourism. This study analyzed innovation dynamics and value creation mechanisms in tourism ventures, considering internal and external factors that affect competitiveness and sustainability. A qualitative approach was adopted, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, through a documentary analysis of 14 sources published between 2010 and 2026, selected for thematic relevance and coverage of variables such as innovation, digitalization, and sustainability. An analytical-synthetic method and a categorization matrix were applied to identify types of technological, social, process, and marketing innovation, while evaluating value creation in economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Results showed that innovation depends on internal factors, such as digital competencies and technological management, and external factors, including connectivity, collaboration networks, and the post-pandemic context. Digitalization emerged as a strategic driver, facilitating service personalization, operational efficiency, and comprehensive value creation. However, structural and managerial gaps were identified, including sector fragmentation, resistance to change, and limited inter-institutional cooperation, which hinder the adoption of sustainable innovations. The study concludes that strengthening digitalization, promoting collaboration within tourism ecosystems, and training entrepreneurs in strategic management are key actions to enhance sectoral resilience. It is recommended to approach innovation multidimensionally and to investigate the relationship between digitalization, open innovation, and inter-institutional collaboration across different types of tourism ventures, especially microenterprises and rural destinations, to ensure competitiveness and sustainable territorial development.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Narcisa Brusela Vásquez Farfán, Edinson Patricio Palacios Trujillo, Byron Daniel Erazo Rodríguez
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