The impact of research and development initiatives on labor productivity in the tourism industry before COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The growth of sectors in the country’s economy is to some extent influenced by the ability to innovate. Tourism represents an industry with a low knowledge nature. However, tourism can potentially contribute to the effects of the innovation environment in which it exists. The paper aims to identify the relationship between investments in research and development and labour productivity in the tourism industry. The regression analysis in selected six countries of the European Union: Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Austria, Croatia, Norway, and non-EU country Great Britain fulfils the objective of the contribution. The years 2013–2020 were chosen as the reference period in the available data in this post. The economic growth of tourism is to a certain extent influenced by the innovative environment in which it is located. The results of our study show a clear dependence between the level of investment in research and development and labour productivity in the tourism industry in selected countries.