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Collaboration, creativity and entrepreneurship in tourism: a case study of how design thinking created a cultural cluster in Dublin

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  • Peter Robbins
  • Frank Devitt

Abstract

Tourism accounts for 7.3% of national employment in Ireland and tourists with a craving for culture, the 'culturally curious', are a key market-segment. Following Ireland's economic collapse, the national tourism agency has evolved its role from funding tourism infrastructure to facilitating collaborative innovation. This paper presents the revelatory case study of Merrion Square, a tourism local innovation system (TLIS) of mainly cultural organisations who collaborated using design thinking, which incorporated ethnographic research, involving customers, tour operators, historians and artists to develop a portfolio of entrepreneurial and novel ideas for enhanced tourism experiences. The result was a series of successful new enterprises and the development of a sustained higher level of cooperation between the institutions. 85% of the institutions involved report increased visitor numbers as a consequence. This paper makes a valuable contribution by establishing design thinking's role in collaborative, multi-sectoral tourism service innovation and entrepreneurship.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Robbins & Frank Devitt, 2017. "Collaboration, creativity and entrepreneurship in tourism: a case study of how design thinking created a cultural cluster in Dublin," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 21(3), pages 185-211.
  • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijeima:v:21:y:2017:i:3:p:185-211
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gábor Megyeri & Kitti Boros & Balázs Fekete, 2022. "A Theoretical Concept of an Innovative and Sustainable Product Based on an Unconventional Approach to Design Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Fang-Wu Tung, 2021. "Rediscovering Herb Lane: Application of Design Thinking to Enhance Visitor Experience in a Traditional Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Bertella, Giovanna & Lupini, Sara & Rossi Romanelli, Cecilia & Font, Xavier, 2021. "Workshop methodology design: Innovation-oriented participatory processes for sustainability," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Soraia Garcês & Margarida Pocinho & Saul Neves de Jesus, 2018. "Review of Optimism, Creativity and Spirituality in Tourism Research," Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, vol. 24(1), pages 107-117, May.

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