Internationalization Process of a Music Festival: Case Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the evolutionary internationalization process of a chamber music festival. The theoretical foundation was related to internationalization processes, internationalization of services, international events, and music festival tourism. The analysis covered a critical case, namely, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, during its history of 35 years. The empirical findings indicated that the internationalization process evolved through the following four phases: "local chamber music festival," "domestic chamber music festival," "internationally enlarged chamber music festival," and "maturing international chamber music festival." The managerial implications are that the key actors' international orientation is the core when achieving concrete results in internationalization.