Swan, Christopher D., and Morgan, Damian (2016) Who wants to be an eco-entrepreneur? Identifying entrepreneurial types and practices in ecotourism businesses. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 17 (2). pp. 120-132.

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Abstract

Entrepreneurs have been characterized according to recognizable types according to attendant concerns and motivations. Within the small business sector of ecotourism, entrepreneurs must balance competing goals pertaining to business objectives, lifestyle aspirations and, most importantly, sustainable environmental practices. This study reports how ecotourism eco-entrepreneurs perceive and manage these goals, consistent with concerns and motivations, based on semi-structured interviews of small business operators. The findings show that eco-entrepreneurs’ social and sustainable characteristics are critical to overcome financially challenging and complex operating environments whilst also delivering a desired lifestyle. As a business strategy, eco-entrepreneurs were found to deliberately maintain small, low-impact ecotourism operations consistent with identified eco-values. Looking forward, eco-entrepreneurs forecast imminent threats to the ecotourism sector through uncontrolled development and mass-tourism business access to sensitive natural areas. If unresolved, this process will replace eco-entrepreneurs in small ecotourism operators with traditional profit-oriented entrepreneurs delivering undifferentiated and high-impact nature-based tourism experiences.

Item ID:	69289
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1465-7503
Keywords:	business objectives, ecotourism, entrepreneurship, motivation
Copyright Information:	© The Author(s) 201
Date Deposited:	29 Sep 2021 00:26
FoR Codes:	35 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 3508 Tourism > 350803 Tourism management @ 50% 35 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour > 350704 Entrepreneurship @ 50%
SEO Codes:	11 COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM > 1104 Tourism services > 110401 Economic issues in tourism @ 100%
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