Networking trends of small tourism businesses: A case study of post-socialist Slovakia

The country of Slovakia has experienced many new changes since their adoption of a market economic system. The tourism industry is an area of the economy that has experienced high levels of growth and is deemed to be a cornerstone of Slovakia's future well being. The objective of this paper is to assess this industry by investigating the reorganization and use of networks by small businesses. A survey of Slovak hotels and tourism agents was conducted to evaluate these interrelationships. The results of the survey were then used to analyze the geographic differences between firms in Slovakia's tourism industry. Emerging patterns were found that reflected the adaptation of Slovakia's small tourism businesses to the changing business environment as well as network patterns that resembled those found in older market based economies.