Purpose – This paper explores a type of organizing that can be found in tourist destinations that areadministratively bound to a specific geographic area in the intersection of public and private context.The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the organizing of activities withindestinations and also to contribute theoretically and conceptually to how place dependency and public/private can be understood from an industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP) network perspective.
Design/methodology/approach – The research approach has its origin in an ongoing multi-disciplinaryand longitudinal case study.Findings – By applying a network approach to the organizing of destinations, where interaction ofrelationships, resources, actors and activities play an essential role, a number of propositions have been putforth so as to provide for a better understanding of place-specific organizing, in the intersection betweenpublic and private interests.
Research limitations/implications – The paper is conceptual and more empirical studies are needed totest the findings. One implication to consider in future empirical studies is the tensions between created andorganic networks that exist in public and private place partnerships.
Practical implications – The paper provides insights into factors affecting destination management.Social implications – With an emphasis on a socio-political context, the opportunities and limitations thatexist between public and private sectors are discussed.
Originality/value – The paper sheds light on a neglected aspect of a contemporary phenomenon where theIMP network approach could contribute to the understanding of destination marketing or managementorganization that are bound to a specific place in the intersection between the public and private context.The area of public-private organizing is a topic that may also add new aspects to the IMP community.