Potential of cooperation in newly formed cluster initiatives – evidence from the tourism sector (Potencjal wspolpracy w nowo powstajacych inicjatywach klastrowych – analiza w sektorze turystycznym)

The aim of this paper is to identify a potential of cooperation between enterprises in the newly established initiatives and an adequacy to use the cluster concept to manage networks in the tourism sector. Authors presented in-deep literature review and outcomes of their own investigation of cluster initiatives. From the perspective of the cluster taxonomy, the tested initiatives should be described as policy-driven Marshallian industrial clusters at the early stages of development. Relationships between the participants are based on the so-called “networks of dialogue” and “networks of friends”. At this stage, they do not show features of “action networks” that are inscribed in the definition of clusters. At the initial phase of network development, the cluster members articulate the need for coordination of activities in the sector, however initiatives present a various level of preparedness to take charge of the organizational and financial responsibility for initiative’s actions. This suggests that the theoretical concept of clusters cannot be translated easily into the functioning of local cluster initiatives in the tourism sector. So, the conclusions of the study may be a starting point for the design and differentiation of cluster support tools.