Innovation in tourism: a new focus for research and policy development in South Africa

Innovation is imperative for the competitiveness and growth of firms, tourism systems and the national tourism economy. As indicated in this article, services and tourism are of growing importance for the economy of South Africa, and a fair proportion of local firms engage in innovative activities. However, innovation in tourism has remained largely absent from local debates and policies. Moreover, the concept of innovation in tourism has been poorly developed in the local context and has not been translated to actual policy initiatives. This article highlights key considerations for tourism innovation in South Africa and argues that this should be a new focus area for research and policy development.