Chapter 2: Framework for Tourism Industries: Tourism System and Tourism Value Chain

The scope of this chapter is to present in a simple and synoptic way the main components of tourism as a consumer-driven business field. The main purpose of this chapter is to discuss the tourism system and tourism value chain as the analytical frameworks for tourism businesses.

A literature review was conducted on conceptual issues and managerial aspects of tourism system and value chain.

This chapter highlights the fact that tourism is not a science or a scientific discipline; it is just a body of knowledge. It presents, in a synoptic and clear way, the building blocks of the tourism, that is, the approaches of tourism system and tourism value chain, as well as the concept of tourism experience.

This chapter is explorative in nature, because the discussion is mostly based on a literature review.

Tourism is a multifaceted activity, which touches upon many different economic activities that are connected as a system. Thus, tourism must be understood as a system that includes interrelated elements working together. The model of a value chain can be applied in tourism, both at business and destination levels. Tourists are the focal point of the global value chain in international tourism.

This chapter analyses analytical frameworks, models and concepts in an integrated way. This analysis is very useful in creating a better understanding of the tourism industries and the business ventures in this field.