The role of network and knowledge management in constitution of destination innovation process

Impact of network and knowledge management on the creation of innovations unique to destination within the scope of the regional innovation system perspective have become one of the most important determinants of competitive power in international tourism market today. In this study, the role of network for innovation knowledge between the actors of tourism cluster and knowledge management at destinations was examined based on the regional innovation system approach. For that purpose, transfer processes between actors were examined considering the network created by the interactions between actors and the knowledge to be created. In accordance with this examination, development of policies and strategies was dealt in order to determine the innovative knowledge to be created and the dependant activities and to transform the innovative knowledge into applicable and valuable innovation. Roles and competencies of the actors in the implementation of innovation types were also evaluated in the study. Two Model proposal including Macro and Micro Model were structured and formed in order to realize the abovementioned evaluations and examinations. Qualitative research method and exploratory research design were used in the study. A focus group discussion was organized and held by the participation of 15 people including executives and representatives of public, private sector and civil society organizations carrying out tourism activities in Izmir in order to make the impact of Models on the innovations in the destination of Izmir understandable and to determine the factors relevant to the applicability of the Models. Data collected were analyzed by use of descriptive analysis technique of descriptive data analysis approaches. As the result of findings obtained depending on the descriptive analysis, gaps between recommended Models and basic principles and actions for the maturation of an innovation process appropriate to the perspective of the regional innovation system in the destination of Izmir were determined. It was concluded that these gaps create obstacles for the cooperation, the operation of knowledge transformation spiral and the creation of innovation based knowledge within the scope of knowledge management and knowledge sharing. In addition, it was discovered that uncertainties in role definitions of cluster actors have important limitations in creation of innovations unique to the destination and that there is no any formation in the nature of the Destination Management System and suggestions were made on the basis of structured Models. Keywords: Destination, Innovation, Territorial Models, Innovation Systems, Network, Knowledge Management