A knowledge destination framework for tourism sustainability: A business intelligence application from Sweden

Based on Grant's (1996) knowledge-based view of the firm, Jafari's (2001) knowledge-based platform of thinking and Schianetz, Kavanagh and Lockington (2007a) Learning Tourism Destination, the Knowledge Destination Framework (Hoken, Fuchs, Keil & Lexhagen, 2011) is introduced and a Web-based Destination Management Information system (DMIS) is presented. It is illustrated how knowledge creation, exchange and application processes can be improved by applying a Business Intelligence approach. By focusing on Online-Analytical Processing (OLAP), exemplarily for the Swedish tourism destination of Are, it is highlighted how DMIS can be used as a monitor for measuring the proportion of tourists with the smallest ecological footprint (Dolnicar, Crouch & Long, 2008; Dolnicar & Leisch, 2008). After a discussion of study limitations, future research steps are outlined. Th e paper concludes by providing some critical remarks on the political economics of sustainability on a global scale and by outlining policy implications for the governance of sustainability at the level of tourism destinations.