Knowledge transfer and innovation among attractions

This study examines knowledge transfers amongst attractions in Cornwall, England, paying attention to the significance of spatial clustering and product similarity. It is based on in-depth interviews with tourist attraction managers and key informants in two contrasting spatial clusters. The findings demonstrate that spatial proximity, product similarity and market similarity generally facilitate knowledge transfers and innovation spillovers, at the local and the regional scales. They also show that the influences of product similarity and spatial proximity are closely related, although this is scale specific. The paper makes a contribution to the literature by studying knowledge transfer and innovations in the relatively neglected attractions sector, exploring the sources, mechanisms, and outcomes of knowledge transfer, and providing insights into the complexities of product similarity and spatial proximity/clustering.