Developing regional tourism in China(10)

中国区域旅游发展

704

J.Jackson/TourismManagement27(2006)695–706

Table4

AttitudestocompetitionandcompetitivebehaviourMyownbusinesscouldbecomemorecompetitiveby:

Improvingproductivity(moreef cientuseofresources)Reducingprices

Imitatingothersuccessfulbusinesses

ReducingproductioncostssuchaswagesReducedtaxes

Innovationsinmyproduct

Receivinggovernmentsubsidies

ParticipatinginlocaltourismorganisationsinvolvedinsellingthedestinationBuildingrelationshipswithlocalsuppliers

ClearlydifferentiatingmyproductfromothersimilarproductsReducedgovernmentregulation

Increasingmyadvertisingexpenditure

Workingcooperativelywithother,similar,businesses

Joiningwithotherbusinessestolimitentrytothelocalmarket

WorkingcooperativelywithotherlocalbusinessesinthetourismindustryWorkingcooperativelywithothernationalbusinessesinthetourismindustry

Meanresponse72.752.84.873.456.45.84.266.21.46.86.8

Standarddeviation0112.11.302.61.20.51.61.50.70.80.80.40.4

Table5

Interactionwithotherbusinesses

Regardinginteractionwithotherlocalbusinesses

WherepossibleItaketheopportunitytoworkcooperativelywithotherlocaltourismrelatedbusinessestosellthedestination rst

IcompetestronglywithothersimilarlocalbusinessesIamamemberoflocaltourism/businessorganisationIregularlyattendindustryfunctionsandactivitiesIprefertodobusinesswithpeopleIknowwell

Ithinkthatthereisthepotentialtoincreaselinkageswithothertourismrelatedbusinessesinthisregion

Thelocalindustryneedshelptodevelopandmaintaintheselinkages

Developmentandleadershipofsuchlinkagesshouldbemanagedbylocalorganisationsratherthangovernments

Responsesmeasuredona7-pointLikert-typescale1¼never,7¼always.

Meanresponse5.675.84.82.875.44

Standarddeviation1.502.732.602.62.1

agreedabouttheirdegreeofco-operationwithotherbusinesses,believedthattherewaspotentialtoincreaselinkageswithothertourismbusinesses.Theyexpressedrelativelylessinterestinobtainingsuppliesonlyfromthosetheyknewwellorinhavinglocalorganisationsorindividuals(seeTable3also)managinglinkagesratherthangovernments.

Follow-upquestionsrevealedlittleinterestininter-actingwithotherlocaltourismorganisationsordesignatedsupplierstoformclusters.Thesecuritymentionedearlierinbelongingtoalargerverticallyintegratedorganisationwasevident.Thismayhoweverhavebeenrelatedtotheparticulargroupsofrespon-dentsinterviewed,andthecurrentownershiparrange-mentsformosttourismbusinessesinChengdu.Whiletheindustryismovingtoamarketeconomy,therearestillfewindividualentrepreneurswithinit,andtheseproveddif culttoaccess.

5.Discussion

Thepreconditionsforcompetitiveadvantageoffactorendowment,relatedandsupportingindustriesanddomesticdemandconditionsareallpresentinthestudyregion.Supportforgreaterco-operationbetweentour-ismbusinessesandclusterformationatanacademicandindustryleadershiplevelwasevidencedbythewideandenthusiasticparticipationintheForumonChina’sTourismandinacademicpublications.However,atthemanagementlevelofindividualbusinessesthereappearstobealesserappreciationofthevalueofhorizontallylinkedlocalclusterswithstronglocalleadershipsupportinglinkagesbetweenbusinesses.

Despiteasophisticatedunderstandingofappropriatecompetitivebehaviouramongstmembersoftheindus-try,theevidencefromSichuanprovinceisthat rmstructuresarelikelytohamperclusterdevelopmentin