Abstract
Abstract
The aim of this study is to discuss the role of networks and strategic alliances in the life of small enterprises working in tourism. This is done by presenting a case study that discusses the experience of Wander With, a micro SME that operates in Dubai’s young, multinational tourism market. It investigates the criteria for an MSME to select partners and alliances, the challenges and risks an MSME faces while dealing with networks and alliances, the benefits an MSME obtains from networks and alliances, the extent to which the Dubai tourism market is connected with the global market, and the tools an MSME uses to become known and generate business globally. Among the general findings of this study is that the main impetus for MSMEs to develop strategic alliances with other organizations is to marshal resources and leverage mutual support. Cooperation among various MSMEs increases their innovation and profitability. Moreover, networking among diverse partners is essential to supply integrated tourist products and provide optimum services to tourists. Finally, Dubai MSMEs have a low scalability potential due to prevalence of high overhead structures, coupled with high existing capacity utilization levels. This case study fills a gap in the research about MSMEs in tourism in the Arab Gulf region, specifically about the role networks and alliances play in their business model
References
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Baggio, R. (2008). Network analysis of a tourism destination. School of Tourism, The University of Queensland, Australia (Ph.D Thesis). (pp. 1-263).
Baggio, R. & Cooper, C. (2008). Proceedings of the IASK Advances in Tourism Research 2008 (ATR2008), Aveiro, Portugal, 26-28 May. (pp. 44-53).
Big Cities, Big Business: Bangkok, London and Paris Lead the Way in Mastercard’s 2018 Global Destination Cities Index. Mastercard. https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/big-cities-big-business-bangkok-london-and-paris-lead-the-way-in-mastercards-2018-global-destination-cities-index/
Braun, P. (2002). Networking tourism SMEs: e-commerce and e-marketing issues in regional Australia. Information Technology & Tourism, 5(1), 13-23.
Caplan, P. & Caplan, J. (1999). Thinking Critically About Research on Sex and Gender. New York: Longman. (pp. 1-119).
Cooper, C., Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., Gilbert, D. & Wanhill, S. (2005). Tourism Principles and Practices. 3rd Edition. Harlow: Prentice Hall. (pp. 748-750).
Dahms, S. & Dubey, A. R. (2015) Internet Adoption by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing Countries: The Case of Travel Agents in the United Arab Emirates. The Arab World Geographer. September 2015, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 169-191.
Diez, M. A. (2001). The evaluation of regional innovation and cluster policies: Towards a participatory approach. European Planning Studies, 9, 907–923
Elasrag, H. (2012). The developmental role of SMEs in the Arab countries. MPRA Paper No. 40608. August 2012, (pp. 8-9). https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/40608/.
Ellis, N. J. (2012). Teachers’ experiences as practitioner researchers in secondary schools: A comparative study of Singapore and New South Wales. Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education and Social Work. The University of Sydney. (pp. 1-250).
Haddad, H., Boustani, E., & Assaf, T. (2016). Collaborative Entrepreneurship: The state of corporate-startup engagement in MENA. Expo 2020 Dubai and Wamda. (p. 13). http://wamda-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/lab-reports/e7066a627c7de36.pdf
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Human, S. E. & Provan, K. G. (1996). External Resource Exchange and Perceptions of Competitiveness within Organizational Networks: An Organizational Learning Perspective. In: Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research (Ed.) P. D. Reynolds; W. D. Bygrave; S. Manigart; C. M. Mason; G. D. Meyere; H. J. Spapienza and K. S. Shaver), Babson Park: Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. (pp. 240-252).
Jennings, G. (2010). Tourism Research. 2nd Edition. Australia Tourism Series. Milton, Qld. Australia: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. (pp.186-187).
Johannisson, B. (1986). Network strategies: management technologies for entrepreneurship and change. International Small Business Journal. 5, (1), 19-30.
Majority of Global Online Travel Buyers Visit TripAdvisor before Booking a Hotel or Flight, According to New Study (2018). Cision PR News Wire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/majority-of-global-online-travel-buyers-visit-tripadvisor-before-booking-a-hotel-or-flight-according-to-new-study-300628574.html
Omerzel , D. G. & Kregar, T. B. (2015). Networking in the Tourism Industry: The Case of Three Neighboring Mediterranean Tourism Destinations. (p. 67). https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/233183
Rhys Rowland-Jones (2013) A perspective on United Arab Emirates small and medium-sized enterprises management utilizing the European Foundation for Quality Management concepts of excellence, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 24:1-2, 210-224. DOI: 10.1080/14783363.2012.756748
Schilirò, D. (2015). Innovation in Small and Medium Enterprises in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Social Science Studies. August 7, 2015. 3 (5), 148-149. http://www.redfame.com/journal/index.php/ijsss/article/viewFile/1014/946. doi:10.11114/ijsss.v3i5.1014
Scott, N.; Cooper, C.; Baggio, R. (2008). Network Analysis and Tourism: From Theory to Practice. Clevedon, UK: Channel View. (p. 3).
Wander With Tourism Guidance Services. (2018). http://wanderwithnada.com/
Smeltzer, L. R. & Fann, G. (1989). Comparison of managerial communication patterns in small entrepreneurial and large, mature organizations. Group and Organization Studies, 14, ( 2), 198-215.
TripAdvisor Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Viator (2014). https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/2014-07-25-TripAdvisor-Enters-Into-Agreement-to-Acquire-Viator
The Definition of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Dubai, (2009).
Mohammed bin Rashed Establishment for SME Development. (pp. 34-63). http://www.sme.ae/English/DataCenter/Pages/StudiesAndResearch.aspx
The State of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Dubai (2015). Mohammed bin Rashed Establishment for SME Development. http://www.sme.ae/StudiesAndResearchDocument/STATE_of_SMEs_in_Dubai_Presentation.pdf
Van der Zee, E. & Vanneste, D. (2015). Tourism networks unraveled: a review of the literature on networks in tourism management studies. Tourism Management Perspectives. 15, 46-56.
Winter, R & Munn-Giddings, C., (2001). A Handbook for Action Research in Health And Social Care. London: Routledge. (p. 8).
Zaidan, E. (2017). Analysis of ICT usage patterns, benefits and barriers in tourism SMEs in the Middle Eastern countries: The case of Dubai in UAE. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 23 (3), 248–263. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766716654515
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