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Entrepreneurial ecosystems in a region benefit from tourism because it promotes entrepreneurial activity.
Innsbruck locals see potential in developing Innsbruck into a smart city.
Guests & tourists see medical care and physical safety as important attributes of a smart city.
Weaknesses in the development of smart cities are seen in the lack of availability of qualified employees and a willingness to take risks.
Studies in the field of smart city development show that they attract more people from the surrounding areas as well as an increasing number of tourists. While many smart tourism concepts focus solely on the development of technology, people and institutional logic, the entrepreneurial ecosystem approach helps toempower smart destinations on their journey to promote the development of urban sustainability.
As part of an evaluation of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, qualitative interviews with key stakeholders demonstrate the importance of entrepreneurship for the development of smart regions. In order to identify the relevant factors for this type of smart city positioning, the study aims to explore, test and analyze smart city aspects among entrepreneurial ecosystem experts, residents and tourists visiting Innsbruck. The present study uses both face-to-face interviews and surveys to explore initiatives and objectives within the city's EES development from the perspective of key stakeholders. A questionnaire was used to measure local residents' and tourists' perceptions of important attributes for the development of smart cities. The data shows that residents believe that Innsbruck has the potential to become a smart city. Furthermore, the data confirms that the entrepreneurial ecosystem approach benefits the tourism industry in the region, noting that tourism improves the respective elements of a regional economic system, which consequently leads to increased entrepreneurial activity.
Key findings of this study
Innsbruck has potential to become a smart city: Residents:inside assume that Innsbruck has the potential to become a smart city.
Entrepreneurial ecosystems in rural regions benefit from tourism: Tourism supports the regional economy as it improves various economic sectors and consequently leads to increased entrepreneurial activity.
Attributes of smart regions are perceived differently: Locals value drivers for the development of smart rural regions differently.
The lack of ICT-skilled labor and the unwillingness of financial providers to take risks were identifiedas weaker elements of the EES.