An Ecosystem Perspective on Tourism: the Implications for Tourism Organizations

This conceptual paper provides a theoretical perspective on tourism that goes beyond merely acknowledging the fact that tourism organizations have to take into account multiple actors. It contributes to the tourism literature by (1) conceptualizing ecosystems in such a way that it embraces the complexity inherent in tourism ecosystems and enabling a truly holistic perspective on tourism and (2) describing the organizational capabilities that are needed for dealing with this complexity. Four distinct but interrelated capabilities are distinguished: mapping the ecosystem, dealing with tension, involving the ecosystem, and effectuating the ecosystem.