Open spaces for co-creation: a community-based approach to tourism product diversification

A community-based approach to tourism product diversification, using the Open Space Methodology (OSM), demonstrates significant potential for fostering innovation and collaboration among local stakeholders. The study, conducted in the Hanseatic town of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland, revealed that involving both members and non-members of the local community can lead to the emergence of innovative ideas through 'coopetition'—a blend of cooperation and competition. These processes helped identify problems and determine solutions, particularly within the concept of 'penetration,' which involves modifying and promoting existing products while leveraging physical and digital infrastructures, as well as partnerships among stakeholders. This approach offers a promising model for strategic tourism development that can be generalized beyond Visby.

Romão, J., Palm, K., & Persson-Fischier, U. (2023). Open spaces for co-creation: a community-based approach to tourism product diversification. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 23(1), 94–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2023.2174183