To read this content please select one of the options below:

A survey of social entrepreneurial community-based hospitality and tourism initiatives in developing economies: A new business approach for industry

Philip Sloan (Department of Hospitality Management, International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef-Bonn, Bad Honnef-Bonn, Germany)
Willy Legrand (Department of Hospitality Management, International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef-Bonn, Bad Honnef-Bonn, Germany)
Claudia Simons-Kaufmann (Department of Hospitality Management, International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef-Bonn, Bad Honnef-Bonn, Germany)

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes

ISSN: 1755-4217

Article publication date: 4 February 2014

2034

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to report on preliminary research conducted in seven sustainable hospitality and tourism operations set in developing economies which use the principles of social entrepreneurship. The applicability of community-based social entrepreneurial management systems as a means of fostering socio-economic development is analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

Online contacts were first made with the selected destinations, who were asked to supply written reports on selected criteria. Purposive sampling was employed, whereby the criteria chosen for analysis were based on characteristics believed to be representative. Analysis of the reports was based on the meaning of words, in particular, in finding commonalities and differences in themes approached by each respondent.

Findings

Preliminary conclusions show that the positive effects of employing local indigenous people in these projects far outweigh some negative aspects. Employment possibilities leading to improved living standards have resulted in each case. Local cultural traditions have been maintained and only in a few cases were examples of the negative effects of tourism reported.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this research are limited to a small selection of community-based social entrepreneurial hospitality and tourism projects in developing economies, thus, cannot be applied to similar projects in developed economies, where social and economic factors are considerably different.

Originality/value

In developing economies, social entrepreneurs can draw on the success of the projects analysed in this paper for the creation of new, similar ventures. In developed economies, hospitality and tourism businesses wishing to pursue a more socially caring form of development can gain inspiration.

Keywords

Citation

Sloan, P., Legrand, W. and Simons-Kaufmann, C. (2014), "A survey of social entrepreneurial community-based hospitality and tourism initiatives in developing economies: A new business approach for industry", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-11-2013-0045

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles