ECONOMIC MISSIONS AS AN INSTRUMENT TO SUPPORT BUSINESS TOURISM OF ENTERPRISES IN 2014-2020

Abstract

Support for foreign expansion of Polish companies is one of the priorities of government policy, as it is one of the ways to increase national capital, economic development of Poland and to improve its competitive position in the international arena. The European Union also tries to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the national markets as well as in the common European market through various programmes. This paper presents how and where to find help e.g. grants for the consortium and stakeholders from the European project CULTOUR PLUS. The SME sector as a whole is the most stable part of the local economy and it is decisive for creating the new work places. This concerns primarily support for the domain of local authorities. This article analyses economic missions as one of the instruments to support the development of enterprises’ innovativeness using the public funds in 2014-2020. The objective of this paper is to present the outcomes of our own research on the motives of business tourism in the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and in particular, economic missions financed by public funds. The realization of this objective should contribute to the better recognition of barriers in undertaking the promotional activities in international markets as well as contribute to the further research in the area of creating systemic instruments supporting the development of enterprises’ innovativeness through the business tourism.