The role of networks among destination management organizations in promoting destinations’ sustainability and resilience: A mixed-methods study

Abstract

The main purpose of this dissertation is to study interorganizational networks among destination management organizations (DMOs) in Norway in the promotion of the sustainability and resilience of destinations and destination actors. DMOs work for and represent local destination actors. Therefore, DMOs’ engagement in interorganizational networks with other DMOs reflect the access to, and the allocation of, information and resources needed to potentially promote destination actors’ sustainability and resilience. The study is relevant as it provides more knowledge to tourism stakeholders such as DMOs, governmental stakeholders, local communities, local tourism providers, marketing researchers, and managers on the importance of network connections.

The present dissertation aims to answer two interrelated research questions. The first research question investigates the extent to which the network structure among DMOs impacts their sustainability certification status. In particular, to what extent do DMO centrality and clustering in the network of DMOs impact their sustainability certification status? The second research question explores how network ties among DMOs enable them to support the sustainability and resilience practices of local destination firms.

To promote destination actors’ sustainability, the present study first investigates the relationship between DMOs’ network ties and sustainability certification status with two certifying organizations in Norway: Innovation Norway and Eco-Lighthouse. During the initial phase of interviews, the informants referred to these as the two certification schemes commonly used by DMOs. The study then explores destination actors’ sustainability practices in more detail. The role of interorganizational networks among DMOs in promoting local destination actors’ resilience practices is also explored.

Interorganizational networks can be studied through either a structural or a relational network approach. The structural approach uses quantitative procedures to measure a given network architecture among actors and consider how these patterns influence actors’ activities. The relational approach analyzes the characteristics of network actors to assess how they influence their collaboration with each other and their ultimate economic activities. This dissertation takes both a structural and a relational view of the network among DMOs to answer the two interrelated research questions. The thesis has several implications for both theory and practice. Theoretically, the study contributes knowledge to understanding how both structural and relational properties of social networks can promote destination sustainability and resilience. Likewise, the study adds to the understanding of drivers of stakeholder theory in destination sustainability and resilience. The empirical data reveal the important role played by public stakeholders in sustainability and resilience in Norway. Additionally, the study contributes to knowledge on aspects of institutional theory in promoting the sustainability practices of tourism destination actors. The underlying premise of institutional theory is the adoption and spread of structures, practices, and policies under the influence of the institutional environment in which a firm operates. The present study reveals that institutional environmental factors—such as a need to fulfill customer expectations, sustainability certifications as evidence of conformity with sustainability practices, and government initiatives to pursue these practices—influence destination firms’ sustainability practices in Norway.

Based on the study of networks among the DMOs in the present study, DMOs are encouraged to function as competence bases. For instance, central DMOs can learn from their network ties and, in turn, accumulate knowledge and combine this within specific knowledge templates with information, tactics, and strategies for sustainability and resilience. DMOs can undertake to encourage public authorities to allocate the resources needed to pursue these strategies. Moreover, the study suggests the formation of local DMO alliances so that they can speak in a common voice to public authorities and policymakers. Generally, DMOs, as network orchestrators, are expected to take a proactive role in strengthening ties and to lead the joint efforts toward sustainability, resilience, and overall competitiveness.