Towards a policy to promote tourism clusters

When thinking about clusters, primarily agglomerations of manufacturing and related service industries come into mind. Yet, clustering in tourism is as salient as in few other industries. Tourism clusters are an empirical fact. Considering the high relevance of tourism to many regions and nations, linking cluster and tourism policy seems worth considering. For this, a special theory of tourism cluster policy is needed, as tourism offers some particular characteristics that set it apart from other industries. On the basis of an analysis of these specifics, this article develops a toolbox for cluster policy specifically aimed at agglomerations in the tourism industry. It offers an overview of ways to use tourism agglomerations for the economic development of nations and regions, including rural ones.