POSSIBILITIES FOR CROSS - BORDER TOURISM CLUSTERS DEVELOPMENT IN EUROREGION NEISSE-NISA-NYSA

Piotr Szwinta

Wrocław University of Economics

Faculty of Economics, Managment and Tourism

Department of Regional Economy

RESEARCH GOAL

The goal of this study is to present propositions

of cross – border tourism clusters developmnt

in Euroregion Neisse – Nisa – Nysa and

potential advantages of this project.

CONCEPT OF CLUSTERS

Geographic concentration of interconnected

companies (manufactures, service providers,

specialized suppliers) and associated

institutions (universities, research centers,

government agencies, trade associations etc.),

that compete with each other but also

cooperate in a particular field.

(Porter, 2001)

TOURISM CLUSTERS

PREMISES IN CROSS – BORDER TOURISM CLUSTERS DEVELOPMENT IN EUROREGION NEISSE – NISA - NYSA

favorable geographical location (tourist attractions, natural environment, climate, landscape, customs, traditional crafts, folklore, historic buildings, technical monuments etc.)

high concentration of competitive tourism enterprises strong tourist infrastructure engagement of the local-governments in the tourism

development process (national and international promotion of the region; projects of renovation, revitalization and restoration of towns and villages; support for SMEs sector, modernization of local infrastructure, environmental protection projects etc.)

strong academic infrastructure in the vicinity (Liberec, Jelenia Góra, Goerlitz, Zittau)

existence of support organizations (local tourism organizations, associations, foundations etc.)

willingness for collaboration between tourism economy entities

PROPOSITIONS OF CROSS – BORDER TOURISM CLUSTERS DEVELOPMNT IN EUROREGION NEISSE – NISA – NYSA

Basic brand Sites of collaboration Main hubs Area The main goal of the cluster

1. Karkonosze Polish - Czech Szklarska Poręba, Karpacz, Kowary, Harrachov, Špindlerův Mlýn Janské Lázně, Pec pod Sněžkou

district jeleniogórski, district Jelenia Góra, district Semily, district (outside area of Euroregion Neisse – Nisa - Nysa)

Increase in tourism potential of the region and creation of competitive advantage.

2. Izerskie Mountains Polish - Czech Świeradów-Zdrój, Liberec, Jablonec nad Nysą,Frýdlant, Nové Město pod Smrkem, Tanvald , Desná, Hejnice

district lwówecki, district Liberec, district Jablonec nad Nisou

Tourism industry development

3. Oberlausitz Polish - German Lubań, Bogatynia, Zgorzelec, Bautzen, Görlitz, Zittau, Bischofswerda, Hoyerswerda, Niesky, Löbau, Kamenz, Weißenberg, Weißwasser

district Bautzen, district Görlitz, district zgorzelecki, district lubański

Cross – border tourism collaboration

4. Health tourism Polish - Czech Cieplice Zdrój (Jelenia Góra), Świeradów Zdrój, Czerniawa Zdrój, Jańskie Łaźnie

Indicated health resorts

Collaboration of medical institutions, health resorts and tourism firms.

5. Europa - Miasto Görlitz/Zgorzelec

Polish - German Görlitz, Zgorzelec Town as a cluster Urban tourism development

POTENTIAL TOURISM CLUSTER MEMBERSSMEs hotels, guesthouses, mountain hostels, restaurants,

bars, pubs, clubs, entertainment centers, transport

companies, touristic operators, travel agencies,

vendorsLocal authorities communes, districts

Support organizations local tourism organizations, associations, foundations, government agencies, regional agencies, financial institutions, law firms

Academic institutions Faculty of Economics, Management and Tourism of Wrocław University of Economics, Technical University of Liberec, Karkonosze State Higher School in Jelenia Góra, Wroclaw University of Technology – a Regional Branch in Jelenia Góra, Hochschule Zittau – Goerlitz, IHI Zittau

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF A POTENTIAL CROSS – BORDER

TOURISM CLUSTER Common promotion of regional brands and

products (winter sports, mountain hiking, crafts, food etc.)

Enhancement of cross–border cooperation. Support for start-up and SMEs sector. Developing tourism infrastructure. Stimulation of innovation in tourism industry. Increase of a quality of hospitality services. Increase in the tourist accessibility of the

region through the development of transport (communication routes, railway, aviation).

POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF CLUSTERING IN EUROREGION

tourism development, easier transfer of information, higher level of efficiency and productivity

within cluster, sharing of best practices among Polish –

Czech – German entities (firms, local authorities, academics etc.),

more opportunities for reaching broader spectrum of customers,

new business formation, knowledge spillovers and innovation

creation.

WILLINGNESS FOR COLLABORATION AMONG ENTERPRISES FOCUSED ON

TOURISM ACTIVITY IN KARKONOSZE – A SURVEY STUDY

Survey goal Examination of existing cooperation links among businesses and their willigness to collaborate within cluster

Form questionnaire

Area PL: Karpacz , Szklarska Poręba,CZ: Harrachov Špindlerův Mlýn

Period April 2013

Target Representiatives of SMEs from tourism industry

Number of respondents 44 in Poland39 in Czech Republic

Structure of respondents 63% accommodation 16% gastronomy 22% other entities

CHART 1. DECLARATION OF COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMPANIES AND/OR INSTITUTIONS FROM TOURISM SECTOR MADE BY

THE RESPONDENTS.

45%

55%

Poland

Yes No

85%

15%

Czech Republic

Yes No

Source: questionnaire results

CHART 2. IN WHAT WAY DOES TOURISM ECONOMY ENTITIES COOPERATE.

Others

Cooperation with competitors

Share of information

Formal meetings

Informal meetings

Being a member of local tourism organization

Cooperation with local authorities

“Neighborhood” help

Cooperation agreements

0.0%

0.0%

9.1%

13.6%

13.6%

15.9%

18.2%

27.3%

36.4%

Poland

Others

Formal meetings

Share of information

Being a member of local tourism organization

Cooperation with competitors

Cooperation with local authorities

Cooperation agreements

Informal meetings

“Neighborhood” help

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%

7.7%

15.4%

23.1%

30.8%

38.5%

43.6%

46.2%

48.7%

61.5%

Czech Republic

Source: questionnaire results

 CHART 3. FIELDS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN TOURISM ECONOMY ENTITIES.

Preservation of regional culture

Education and training

Improvement of tourist information system

Environmental protection

Transport

Organizing of tourism trade fairs and events

Developing tourism infrastructure

Lobbing for tourism development at local level

Promotion of region

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

4.5%

9.1%

9.1%

9.1%

11.4%

15.9%

18.2%

27.3%

36.4%

Poland

Education and training

Improvement of tourist information system

Preservation of regional culture

Transport

Developing tourism infrastructure

Lobbing for tourism development

Organizing of tourism trade fairs and events

Environmental protection

Promotion of region

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%

7.7%

10.3%

12.8%

15.4%

15.4%

20.5%

23.1%

30.8%

69.2%

Czech Republic

Source: questionnaire results

CHART 4. WILLINGNESS FOR COLLABORATION WITHIN CLUSTER STRUCTURE IN THE RESPONDENT’S OPINION.

36%

18%

45%

Poland

Yes

No

I do not have enough knowledge about it.

46%

54%

Czech Republic

Yes I do not have enough knowledge about it

Source: questionnaire results

CHART 5. EXPECTATIONS REGARDING ENTERING THE CLUSTER.

More confidence

Facile access to information

Financing from EU funds

Improving general infrastructure

More profits

Support from local authorities

Positive influence on the future of my town and/or whole region

Benefits from common promotion

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%

27.3%

36.4%

40.9%

29.5%

45.5%

50.0%

56.8%

63.6%

7.7%

38.5%

41.0%

53.8%

61.5%

61.5%

64.1%

69.2%

Czech Republic Poland

Source: questionnaire results

CHART 6. FEARS REGARDING ENTERING THE CLUSTER.

Stronger competition between entities

Limitation on business freedom

Stealing ideas

To much local authorities interventions

Additional costs

More bureaucracy

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%

0.0%

7.7%

23.1%

35.9%

41.0%

61.5%

Czech Republic

Stronger competition between entities

Limitation on business freedom

Additional costs

To much local authorities interventions

Stealing ideas

More bureaucracy

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

18.2%

20.5%

27.3%

31.8%

36.4%

81.8%

Poland

Source: questionnaire results

CHART 7. WILLINGNESS FOR COLLABORATION WITHIN CZECH-POLISH CROSS-BORDER CLUSTER.

82%

18%

Poland

Yes

I do not have enough knowledge about it.

69%

31%

Czech Republic

Yes

I do not have enough knowledge about it

Source: questionnaire results

CONCLUSIONS

Tourism is one of the most important sector of the economy

of Euroregion Neisse – Nisa - Nysa. Despite support from EU

Funds for cross – border cooperation between tourism

economy entities, this cooperation is still insufficient. One of

the way to solve this problem is by creating tourism clusters.

The project of establishing cross – border tourism clusters in

the area of Euroregion Neisse – Nisa – Nysa could enhance

collaboration beetwen tourism economy entities and increase

tourism potential of the region.

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