Identifying research results, articles and learned commentary presenting evidence of the beneficial integration of CCIs SMEs into Cultural and Creative Tourism (CCT) development is currently lacking. The passing over of the findings to CCT providers SMEs and enticing them to adopt CCIs in the development of their product requires further research.
Institutional links developed between academic bodies (universities, research centers, colleges etc.), local CCT SMEs (plus, if appropriate, the local operations of larger firms) and collective development bodies such as Chambers of Commerce and Destination Management Organisations, enable knowledge transfer from the academe to the tourism industry regarding past good practices and experience in applying CCIs to CCT SMEs, the potential of incorporating CCI practices to the provision of local tourism products, and, most pertinently, the conclusive results of research projects on the subject seeking to transcend the present binary divide between the two sectors to the benefit and enhancement of both.
Suitable research results have been reviewed and in a few cases there are potential bases for transfer into policy making and mainstreaming into Operational Programmes and Structural Funds. These relate to deployment of CCIs in CCT product development, including competitiveness of CCIs SMEs.
Creative Tourism has shown in research findings to provide a sound basis for CCI SMEs development in co-creation activities with visitors.
No funding source is required, except for the staff time of the academic institutions, SMEs and other beneficiaries involved.
Online facilities provide low-cost or free of charge access to research papers and other publications that present research results for transfer into suitable policies.
Some SMEs have made use of, applied, developed and adapted to local conditions, CCT products imbued with CCI practices they have found described in research reports, findings and analyses produced by academic institutions and research centres across the globe.
It is in the academy that evaluation methods to establish the benefits, both quantitative and qualitative, accruing to local SMEs and tourist destinations have been devised and developed. Policy making can be based on research results.
There is a need for developing expertise in drawing suitable conclusions from research results that can form a basis for policy formulation regarding CCT development based on CCIs SMEs. This could be facitated by forming strong links between Universities/resarch institutes and SME collective bodies.
It is very useful to draw from research and analysis to inform practical CCT projects at local level, transforming the conceptual into the material of concrete tourism products. Transfer of knowledge and experience lies at its essence. It can apply at any region, in any context, where the beneficial linkage of CCT to CCIs is duly appreciated.
The application of research results, on CCT product development based on CCIs SMEs, toeards providing sound bases for suitable policy formulation can be transferred to tourist destinations seeking to develop innovative and alternative tourism products and services, in dealing with seasonality and attracting a new tyoe of visitor. This is particularly the case in Creative Tourism development, with co-creation by CCIs and visitors that enhance the holiday experience and empower citizens and CCIs SMEs. The support of Universities/research institutions is required to provide expertise on business models and improved governance in tourism.
