Page 158 - Sustaining Accommodation SMES

8 Implications for Policy and Practice

The systematic use of data enhances transparency, supports more ef-
ficient allocation of public resources, and enables adaptive policymaking
aligned with the evolving sustainability performance of the accommoda-
tion sector.

aligning smart specialisation strategies (s3)
with sustainable tourism
In line with the core principles of Smart Specialisation, S3 frameworks
should incorporate sustainable tourism investment priorities that:
• Build on regional tourism assets, destination-specific challenges,
and existing knowledge bases, supporting sustainable hospitality
innovation that is adapted to local environmental, economic, and
social conditions.
• Concentrate resources on a limited number of clearly defined priori-
ties related to sustainable tourism, such as circular economy pilots in
accommodation and digital or technological solutions that facilitate
compliance with sustainability standards and management systems.
• Actively involve stakeholders from the quadruple helix in the design,
implementation, and monitoring of these priorities, including ac-
commodation providers, research and education institutions, tech-
nology developers, public authorities, and civil society, in order to
support entrepreneurial discovery and co-development of solutions.
By reflecting localisation, prioritisation, and participation, the integra-
tion of sustainable tourism into S3 frameworks supports the develop-
ment of regional innovation ecosystems and strengthens the alignment
between tourism sustainability objectives and broader regional develop-
ment agendas.

supporting smes through training
and advisory services
Business associations, chambers of commerce, and cluster organisations
act as trusted intermediaries between policy frameworks and firm-level
practice. Through targeted capacity building activities, they can lower
perceived complexity and strengthen smes’ ability to engage with struc-
tured sustainability management. In this context, associations can:

• Provide sector-specific training aligned with iso 21401 require-
ments.

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