Stakeholders’ perceptions of sustainable entrepreneurship within the context of a developing economy

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study advances the understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship (SE) by investigating stakeholders’ perceptions of SEs dimensions in a developing economy. Sixty-three semistructured interviews with local government officers and entrepreneurs in family-business settings were conducted on three islands within the Vietnamese Marine Protected Areas cluster. The study fills both theoretical and empirical gaps concerning the emergence of SE in a developing economy. It empirically examines cultural sustainability and the interconnection between four sustainability pillars (environment, economy, society, and culture), thus, contributing to a more holistic concept of SE in the tourism sector. Furthermore, the study reveals that stakeholders’ perceptions of SE are affected by levels of tourism development. The findings have important implications for family-owned businesses and policymakers.