The Role of Stakeholder Involvement in the Governance of Tourist Museums: Evidence of Management Models in the Canary Islands

Abstract

The responsible management of cultural heritage requires the formation of a competitive tourism product, which in turn requires a high level of collaboration, the need for diversification and differentiation from other tourism sites. The application of governance mechanisms and their effect on the optimization of visitorship in the heritage tourism industry has been understudied. Although there are four models of management in museums, the needs of heritage sites invite an analysis of them, particularly in the consideration of the role of the stakeholders in shaping the product offered. Four case studies in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) examine how the application of local governance mechanisms affects museums and interpretation centers to optimize the goals of the tourism product. For this analysis, a qualitative analysis has been carried out through direct observation and interviews, analyzing the results with CAQDAS. The study found that strategic planning linked to the territory and public-private partnerships could increase effectiveness and efficiency in the allocation of public resources, and that the application of certain governance strategies could increase the impact of stakeholder involvement in the efficacy of the site management. Future study needs are established for other institutions that manage cultural heritage.