Stakeholder engagement in destination management: a systematic review of literature

Abstract

The topic of stakeholder engagement is not a new phenomenon, nor is it an entirely distinct area of study, rather stakeholder engagement has drawn input and influence from number of academic streams and can be based on a range of different perspectives. The wide variety of circumstances and contexts that involve stakeholder engagement means that it has proved challenging for researchers to create a single, all-encompassing construal of stakeholder engagement, however there is a growing body of knowledge that seeks to inform and enhance how stakeholders are engaged. Within the international tourism sector the benefits of engaging with and harnessing the collective energy of multiple stakeholders is widely acknowledged and promoted, however the perceived challenges associated with stakeholder engagement can make destination managers hesitant to implement the practice to its fullest potential. This paper seeks to review extant knowledge in stakeholder engagement so as to inform dialogue and broaden awareness of best practice in stakeholder engagement within tourism destinations