Methodological approaches to assessing the SMART-specialization relevance to the tourism industry

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to define the fundamental principles of smart-specialization in the regions and to study methodological approaches to assessing the relevance of smart-specialization in the tourism industry. To ensure the conceptual integrity of the study, the following methods were used: theoretical generalization, dialectics, analysis, synthesis and systematization, grouping, desk research. To achieve this goal: the methodological approach to assessing the relevance of smart-specialization of the tourism industry has been improved, which takes into account the industry-specific features of this service sector and is based on the calculation of coefficients (specialization coefficient, social efficiency coefficient, budgetary and economic efficiency coefficients) that determine the role of certain types of economic activity in the tourism industry. The proposed coefficients will allow testing the level of economic, budgetary and social significance of the industry for the region and creating conditions for its development. The proposed methodological approach to determining the relevance of smart-specialization of the tourism industry in a region is universal and can be applied to any sector of the economy, as well as to calculate the specialization of industries at the level of territorial communities. Supporting regional development with the help of smart-specialization tools will increase the competitiveness of territories, resulting in support for depressed areas focused on the development of unique production and innovation ecosystems. The existing smart-specialization platform (S3P) allows regions/countries to develop, implement and review their RIS3 smart-specialization strategies and apply the experience of more developed countries. The practical significance of the work lies in the application of a methodological approach to assessing the relevance of smart specialization for use in any sector of the economy as part of the process of substantiating regional strategies. JEL Classification:  R58; Z32.