Cross-border marketing in tourist SMEs in the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalusia Euroregion

This article aims to analyze the international marketing capabilities of SMEs in the tourism sector in the Portuguese-Spanish border through the relationship between information technology capabilities, cognitive proximity, and international entrepreneurial orientation. The analysis considers a samp...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Gil Cordero, Eloy, Maldonado López, Belén, Ledesma Chaves, Pablo
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repository:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:idus________::6f9cc90d70678d264761c9c43ba09468
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/183723
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.106912
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:International marketing
SMEs (tourism sector)
Cognitive proximity
Information technology capabilities
International entrepreneurial orientation
PLS-SEM
Description
Summary:This article aims to analyze the international marketing capabilities of SMEs in the tourism sector in the Portuguese-Spanish border through the relationship between information technology capabilities, cognitive proximity, and international entrepreneurial orientation. The analysis considers a sample of 267 companies in the tourism sector based in the Lower Guadiana border region. SmartPLS 4 software is used for statistical and data processing. The results suggest that cognitive proximity, information technology capabilities, and inter- national entrepreneurial orientation are significant factors for the development of international marketing ca- pabilities of the SMEs under analysis. However, the mediation of international entrepreneurial orientation does not improve the direct relationship with international marketing capabilities. This study contributes to allevi- ating the lack of empirical studies on business solutions in the tourism sector after the creation of Supranational Bodies such as the Alentejo-Algarve-Andalusia Euroregion and the allocation of European funds to boost interest in cross-border relations. The improvement of marketing capabilities of SMEs in the tourism sector in cross- border regions and the exploitation of synergies between different population centers on both sides of borders should result in the creation of business organizations that transcend national boundaries and aim to create a shared interest in the creation of unique value and cooperation, with a positive impact on local communities.