Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs in terms of internationalization and innovation. Supported by a resource-based framework of early internationalizing firms, the authors investigated multiple conditions for the relationship between internationalization and innovation relative to gender in nascent companies. Design/methodology/approach: For this purpose, the authors used survey data related to entrepreneurial activity in 50 countries from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Based on a model of seven factors (internationalization, innovation, gender, skills, opportunity, sector, and country), the authors tested the significance of the relationships between these factors by means of a hierarchical log-linear analysis. Findings: The results indicate the low competitiveness of women entrepreneurs in general, but outline some singularities, especially between developed and developing countries. Originality/value: This study offers cross-country empirical evidence of how factors of different levels interact with each other. In this way, the authors shed light on the competitiveness of nascent companies, especially regarding gender differences.

This paper uses logistic regression analysis to examine how intramural and extramural R&D, acquisition of machinery, equipment and software, acquisition of external knowledge, training, market introduction and other procedures and technical preparations determine the innovation behaviour of manufacturing and service firms. We adopt a multidimensional view of innovation by considering product, process, organizational and marketing innovations as dependent variables separately. The study reports on the Community Innovation Survey (CIS4) of a small open-economy country. The empirical results indicate that intramural R&D has a positive impact on innovation. In contrast, the influence of extramural R&D on innovation is unclear. All innovation activities contribute towards organizational innovation. The study also suggests that there are no significant differences between services and manufacturing firms concerning the propensity to innovation.

Literature suggests that local governance might encourage the emergence of innovative businesses. Little is known about that relationship in the context of tourism, although literature suggests governance as a way to deal with the problems of tourism destinations. Additionally, studies in entrepreneurship seldom focus on tourism. This study addresses these gaps by exploring the role of local governance in tourism entrepreneurship. The research strategy of the study is qualitative, using focus groups and semi-structured interviews with diverse local and regional stakeholders, from entrepreneurs to policymakers. Two municipalities in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon serve as case studies. The differences in the entrepreneurial ecosystems of both territories relate to their distinctive stages of development as tourism destinations. Results suggest that the "good governance" model prevails but that a "one size fits all" approach is not helpful. Results also suggest the need for local governance models to evolve into modes of multi-level network governance, incorporating regional interaction and integration; and recognising participation as the key to democratic legitimacy, transparency, and effectiveness of public policies. With multi-level governance, public administrations at different levels of government are responsible for opening the decision-making process to other relevant actors in society. The study's theoretical contribution concerns the need to investigate hybrid governance models for tourism entrepreneurship. For practitioners (i.e., local decision-makers), this study highlights the advantages of flexibility and a multi-level approach to governance.

Factors affecting students’ entrepreneurial intentions of Polytechnic Institute of Setubal: a cognitive approach

Pull factors, the attributes of a specific location, matter in tourism. These factors encompass the distinctive characteristics and alluring features that attract tourists to a destination, their importance and performance influencing the decision-making process and overall experience. A clear comprehension of this concept is crucial for destinations' economic vitality as they compete for tourists and strive for economic expansion and employment prospects. Indeed, an in-depth knowledge of these factors' importance and performance underscores the need for regions to adjust their approach to evolving tourist preferences. This adaptation is crucial to fostering responsible and sustainable tourism practices that safeguard cultural and natural resources. However, besides learning about the factors considered critical by tourists to visit a location, it is paramount to analyse how they evaluate the performance of each of these factors while staying there.This study focuses on the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA), Portugal, and the findings will provide essential insights into destination competitiveness, sustainable tourism development, and the creation of unique travel experiences. As a destination that gained popularity, attracting tourists from all over the world, it is necessary to comprehend the specific factors that contribute to this vibrant region's allure and how it performs regarding them. The research will use the Importance-Performance Analysis to make data interpretation accessible and suggest relevant measures to improve competitiveness based on optimising the allocation of resources among the various factors/attributes analysed. The research incorporates numerous criteria categories, including historical significance, urban appeal, natural scenery, culinary experiences, cultural heritage, and aspects like streets' cleanliness, transport availability, or health emergency infrastructures. The study's conclusions will impact Lisbon region's (LMA) tourism and destination management. By understanding what factors are more important for tourists that visit the area and their evaluation of the performance of each of these factors, stakeholders can improve marketing, infrastructure, and the visitors' experience to promote sustainable development and maintain Lisbon's standing as a top tourist destination for rewarding and enlightening experiences. Relevant data is also provided to inform future tourism initiatives. This study adds to the academic discussion of location competitiveness and unique travel experiences.

The main objective of this study is to analyze scientific production from 2010 to 2021 using bibliometric analysis based on articles on social networks, stakeholders, and sea tourism published in scientific journals. In the first phase, the search criteria were chosen. In the second phase, the search was done on WoS and Scopus databases. In the third phase, papers unrelated to our study’s subject were excluded. The resulting data from the selection and exclusion criteria were compiled in the fourth phase. In the fifth phase, the data was coded using the NVIVO software, and finally, in the sixth phase, the results were analyzed. The study’s results suggest that the research related to social networks, stakeholders, and governance in tourism, particularly in sea tourism, remains an underdeveloped field. Notwithstanding, results suggest that social networks and stakeholder cooperation contribute to local sea tourism development. Considering that STEs are closely linked to local communities, this study’s findings can provide clues on future research on tourism development, public policies to support STEs, cooperation for co-creation, and information and tourism resource sharing.