Clusters without Content? Icelandic National and Regional Tourism Policy

Authors

  • Edward H. Huijbens Icelandic Tourism Research Centre / University of Akureyri
  • Hjalti Jóhannesson The University of Akureyri Research Centre
  • Gunnar Thór Jóhannesson Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v18i1.15703

Keywords:

Iceland, Tourism, Clusters, Growth agreements, Policy

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between Icelandic regional policy and tourism development. It is inspired by the efforts of the Icelandic government to introduce industry clusters in tourism development over the last few years. With tourism gaining increasing recognition as a central pillar of the national economy and clustering being seen as central means to success, the paper presents a critical evaluation of the cluster concept. The introduction of industry clusters in Icelandic regional policy is illustrated through a short case study from North Iceland, where industry clusters have been promoted in general regional development and tourism for the longest and gone through two successive stages. This case underpins the central argument of the paper that industry clusters as promoted by the Icelandic government do not reflect an engagement with regional socio-spatial specificities and the nature of the tourism product. These specificities need to be recognised and worked with in order to establish the necessary foundations for any successful cluster initiative. Thus the paper concludes with questioning the efficiency of top-down governance approach in enhancing tourism.

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Author Biographies

Edward H. Huijbens, Icelandic Tourism Research Centre / University of Akureyri

Edward H. Huijbens, MA, PhD. Geographer and scholar of tourism at the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre and professor at the University of Akureyri. Edward works on tourism innovation, landscape perceptions, marketing strategies and health and wellbeing. He is author of articles in several scholarly journals such as Annals of Tourism Research, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Geographies and has published monographs in both Iceland and internationally and co-edited three books.

Hjalti Jóhannesson, The University of Akureyri Research Centre

Hjalti Jóhannesson, MA Geographer and assistant director at University of Akureyri Research Centre. Hjalti works on regional development, local government, infrastructure, innovation and socio-economic impact studies and monitoring. He has been author and co-author of diverse research papers and reports on these broad themes both in Icelandic and international context.

Gunnar Thór Jóhannesson, Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland

Gunnar Thór Jóhannesson, MA, PhD. Assistant Professor at the University of Iceland, Department of Geography and Tourism. His current research interests are in the area of entrepreneurship in tourism, tourism policy and destination development as well as research methodologies. He is a co-editor of Actor-Network Theory and Tourism: Ordering, materiality and multiplicity, published with Routledge in 2012 and has published his work in journals including Tourist Studies, Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism and Current Issues in Tourism.

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Published

2014-03-15

How to Cite

Huijbens, E. H., Jóhannesson, H., & Jóhannesson, G. T. (2014). Clusters without Content? Icelandic National and Regional Tourism Policy. Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration, 18(1), 63–85. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v18i1.15703

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