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Digitalisation of the Tourism Industry and Self-Employment: Challenges of the Gig-Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Olena Stryzhak

    (Department of Entrepreneurship, Trade and Tourism Business, Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics, 61166 Kharkiv, Ukraine)

  • Volodymyr Yermachenko

    (Department of Entrepreneurship, Trade and Tourism Business, Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics, 61166 Kharkiv, Ukraine
    Institute of Public Administration, Bratislava University of Economics and Management, 85104 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • L’uboš Cibák

    (Institute of Public Administration, Bratislava University of Economics and Management, 85104 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Mikuláš Sidak

    (Institute of Public Administration, Bratislava University of Economics and Management, 85104 Bratislava, Slovakia)

Abstract

The study focuses on the challenges that the gig-economy brings to the labour market. Digitalisation is transforming the nature of labour relations, and the ratio of the employed to the self-employed is changing. By expanding the scope of digital technology and the use of digital platforms, changes are affecting all areas, including the tourism industry. The article assesses the relationship between tourism development, digitalisation, and self-employment indicators. The study covers 112 countries for 2021. The paper uses the Travel & Tourism Development Index, Network Readiness Index and the World Bank’s self-employment indicator. The analysis showed that the features of the relationship between tourism development, digitalisation and self-employment vary across the three groups of countries identified as a result of cluster analysis. The study found that there is a positive relationship between the level of tourism sector development and the level of the country’s digitalisation. The relationship between the level of self-employment and tourism development is variable across groups. The relationship between self-employment and digitalisation was confirmed only for the sample as a whole.

Suggested Citation

  • Olena Stryzhak & Volodymyr Yermachenko & L’uboš Cibák & Mikuláš Sidak, 2025. "Digitalisation of the Tourism Industry and Self-Employment: Challenges of the Gig-Economy," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jtourh:v:6:y:2025:i:1:p:4-:d:1560022
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mathilde Dissing Christensen, 2023. "Doing digital discipline: how Airbnb hosts engage with the digital platform," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 70-85, January.
    2. Andrew Henley, 2021. "The rise of self-employment in the UK: entrepreneurial transmission or declining job quality?," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 45(3), pages 457-486.
    3. Luis Moreno-Izquierdo & Ana B. Ramón-Rodríguez & Adrián Más-Ferrando, 2022. "Digitalization and the Transformation of Tourism Economics," Springer Books, in: Zheng Xiang & Matthias Fuchs & Ulrike Gretzel & Wolfram Höpken (ed.), Handbook of e-Tourism, chapter 8, pages 173-191, Springer.
    4. Krasimira Yancheva & Elena Ilieva, 2022. "Study of the Specific Covid-19 Pandemic Effects on the Bulgarian Tourism Labour Market," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 8, pages 107-131.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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