Competitive and innovation factors in wine tourism clusters: A comparative study between consolidated and emerging regions in Brazil and Uruguay / Factores de competitividad e innovación en clusters enoturísticos: Un estudio comparativo entre las regiones consolidadas y emergentes en Brasil y Uruguay

¹ Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS) – campus Restinga, Rua Alberto Hoffmann 285, CEP 91791-508, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
² Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS) – campus Porto Alegre, Rua Coronel Vicente 281, CEP 90300-041, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
³ Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU), Av 8 de Octubre 2738">Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU), Av 8 de Octubre 2738, CP. 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
⁴ Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU), Av 8 de Octubre 2738">Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU), Av 8 de Octubre 2738, CP. 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay

^a e-mail: shana.flores@restinga.ifrs.edu.br

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to establish a cross-country analysis of the structure and organization of wine tourism clusters in consolidated and emerging wine regions in Brazil and Uruguay, looking for identifying the key factors for competitiveness and innovation. The regions chosen for analysis are: Vale dos Vinhedos, Campanha and Vale do São Francisco, in Brazil, and sites on Montevideo and Canelones, in Uruguay. The study analyze competitive factors in each region, including: the structure and density, support institutions at national and regional level, educational and research institutions, organization process for the geographical indication and the relationship between wine tourism and the promotion of wine and region. Further than comparing the two countries, the research also puts stop regions according to their stage of development in each assessed factor. Thus, the study suggests strategies that can be adopted at regional level or in cooperation between regions (in the country or bi-national cooperation) to strengthen and develop the tourist areas of the wine as a whole.