Smart Specialization in Tourism and Recreation: International Challenges, National Guidelines, Regional Features

Abstract

The article reveals international challenges, national guidelines, and regional peculiarities of SMART specialization in tourism and recreation. In the course of the research, we offer methodical approaches to justify the SMART specialization of the region in the field of hospitality and recreation as a component of the general model of strategic development of the regional economy and a key factor of competitiveness. The authors determined that an effective tool for the strategic development of the region and the formation of sustainable competitive advantages, which has proven its effectiveness in the practice of regional management in the EU countries, is the definition of the critical SMART specializations of the region and the concentration of efforts on their development—using the proposed methodological approaches. Zakarpattia tourism and recreation spheres were tested for the conditions of adaptation of smart specialization. The calculations showed that the sphere of tourism, recreation, and hospitality as a whole is an essential branch of the economy of the Zakarpattia region and can develop based on SMART specialization. The key areas of tourism and recreation development in the regions that correspond to modern world trends and are the most relevant given the current military events are highlighted: green tourism, health resort, sports, rehabilitation, and inclusive tourism.