Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT & NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AT DESTINATION CLUSTERS 
Research in the tourism literature already exist demonstrating the importance of applying knowledge 
management processes at destination level and tourism clusters for achieving enhanced business performance and 
competitive advantage. So, for example, Woods and Deegan (2006) demonstrated the importance of establishing a 
destination wide quality assurance programme and the role of knowledge sharing amongst the tourism suppliers for 
successfully implementing it. Clark and Scott (2006) highlighted the need to incorporate knowledge management in 
the strategic planning of a destination, while also provided a model that destinations can use to assess their 
knowledge-based strategic planning competence. Producing and distributing knowledge within a destination cluster 

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