Small Tourism Businesses Research Articles

Проблемы доступности и комфортности объектов туристической инфраструктуры для развития автомобильного туризма в России

This study examines the potential for the development of automobile tourism in Russia and its surrounding difficulties, focusing on the convenience and accessibility of tourist facilities. The analysis conducted includes a thorough dissection of the theoretical framework and consideration of the practical elements of the industry. The main objective is to improve and modernize road travel conditions in the country through a comprehensive approach. The paper analyzes existing data and conducts a comprehensive assessment that considers the many factors that influence road tourism. Key problems identified include limited development of the road network, regional differences in infrastructure and a lack of quality services in remote parts of Russia. The challenges faced by international tourism are also raised, including strict visa and customs procedures that prevent foreign road tourists from visiting Russia. It is highlighted that solving these problems will require efforts on the part of both the government and the private sector, in the form of partnership programs to improve infrastructure and services. Specific measures are proposed to develop the transportation network, improve road safety, stimulate rural and ecotourism, and support small businesses in tourism. At the same time, the integration of the latest technologies and the establishment of international tourism are emphasized. Emphasis is placed on the importance of environmental considerations for sustainable tourism development, given the growing interest in road travel in Russia. This study aims to develop strategies that can lead to the successful development of automobile tourism, enriching the economic and cultural life of the country.

Corporate social responsibility bridges in the context of tourism service providers

This research focuses on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of tourism service providers (TSPs – tour operators, travel agencies, tourism transportation agencies, among others). We analyse TSP’s collaborative efforts through CSR practices and their social, economic and environmental dimensions. Building on a qualitative framework, we conducted structured personal interviews with fifteen representatives of Jordanian TSPs. Several contributions are worth mentioning: the analysis allows for a broader understanding of CSR practices adopted by TSPs to serve as mutual support bridges between TSPs and stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism industry; CSR practices, benefits and barriers faced by TSPs; gender gap emerging from TSPs employment policies and intersectionality; TSPs and job and tourist opportunities for people with special needs; CSR practices, sustainability and community welfare, among others. This empirical article offers insights from Jordan’s small tourism businesses, a case previously not analysed. Limitations and implications for decision-makers are also discussed.

Remembering for resilience: nature-based tourism, COVID-19, and green transitions

The COVID-19 pandemic had transformative effects on the tourism sector at an unparalleled scale. With the rapid onset of unprecedented travel restrictions, tourists were abruptly confined to experiences in their regional surroundings that led to new and refreshed relationships with local destinations. This paper draws on qualitative interviews with small tourism businesses in two distinct but proximate nature-based destinations in Ontario, Canada and considers how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings are positioned within Holling's Adaptive Cycle to consider implications for ongoing resiliency planning for disturbances relating to climate change. Over a 2-year period (2020–2022), SMEs revealed that after an initially turbulent period they quickly adapted to the absence of international long-haul visitors by embracing a surge in domestic demand for nature-based, outdoor experiences. The paper contributes to the literature on tourism SMEs by connecting experiences of COVID-19 to resiliency planning for future predictable disturbances. Two critical lessons for enhancing destination resiliency are identified: engagement of regional tourism demand, and destination level leadership, through investment in infrastructure and partnerships, can both be harnessed to support SMEs and their communities in transitioning toward a more sustainable, resilient and climate-friendly tourism future. Given the growing demand for tourism businesses to transition away from environmentally harmful practices and a longstanding dependency on economic growth, these resources can help destinations enhance preparedness for future changes to tourism flows driven by decarbonization scenarios and increased climatic impacts.

Locus of control, environment, and small-medium business performance in pilgrimage tourism: The mediating role of product innovation

Small and medium businesses in pilgrimage tourism are one of the most vulnerable sectors in the post-pandemic due to product innovation and business activities. This study aims to investigate the impact of locus of control and environment on business performance, as well as to examine the role of product innovation. The data of this research were retrieved using a self-administered survey from small and medium businesses on Islamic pilgrimage in East Java of Indonesia. Using structural equation modeling, the findings indicate that locus of control and environment can support product innovation and small-medium business performance. Furthermore, this present research shows that there is a robust link between product innovation and performance. This research also reveals that product innovation partially mediates the link between locus of control and business performance, as well as the environment and small-medium business performance in pilgrimage tourism. These findings raise the need for small and medium enterprises to take the initiative for product innovations to escalate business performance.

Rural tourism in South Africa: A local economic development strategy

This study aims to assess the potential of rural tourism as a strategy for local economic development in three rural villages in the Thulamela Local Municipality, which falls under the Vhembe District Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Rural tourism is considered a promising industry for rural development and a popular approach to local economic growth. Sustainable rural tourism is recognised as a crucial component of rural development and is particularly important in developing nations, such as South Africa, where substantial rural populations and limited economic activity exist. The study utilised a qualitative research approach, drawing on an exploratory design and interpretive paradigm. A purposive sampling technique was adopted to select participants. Focus group discussions were conducted with the participants, and content analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The study indicates that rural tourism could effectively promote local economic growth in the three rural villages by providing residents with employment opportunities, thereby reducing poverty rates in rural areas. However, challenges remain, including the lack of funding to support small tourism businesses and the need for human capital development in local communities. The study recommends a gradual approach to knowledge and skills development within local communities to support the business aspects of rural tourism development, as well as the provision of funding assistance.

FACTORS IMPACTING FINANCIAL LOSS OF SMALL TOURISM BUSINESSES DUE TO COVID-19

Small tourism businesses are extremely affected by COVID-19 pandemic all over the world. The pandemic scenario in case of small tourism businesses in third-world country like Bangladesh was much critical. The study aims at evaluating factors responsible for financial loss of small tourism businesses due to COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. To address the objective, Chi-square test, and logistic regression modeling have been applied to the quantitative primary data. This study finds that education of the owner/manager, type of organization, office location, year of establishment, main target customer and revenue earned before pandemic have significant relationship with financial loss during COVID-19. The results of the research would assist entrepreneurs and policy-makers in weighing different factors directly connected with the profit or loss in business and to formulate strategies for unpredicted crises.

The role of augmented reality for sustainable development: Evidence from cultural heritage tourism

Issues of sustainability have gained interest and priority, examining ways organisations can protect environmental and cultural heritage, whilst addressing stakeholders' needs. Research exploring the role of Augmented Reality (AR) for sustainable tourism development has been limited. This study adopts the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, to explore how AR can improve tourism attraction sustainability and create business benefits beyond enhanced visitor experiences. A UNESCO-recognised small cultural heritage tourism attraction in the UK was selected as a case study. Adopting a stakeholder approach, 50 interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. This study reveals AR presents strategic opportunities to achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability, extending the current understanding of the TBL in a small tourism business context. We propose AR as a tool to help tourism attractions ensure their long-term viability and sustainability, and the findings provide important insight into how to achieve this.

Psychological resilience of small tourism business entrepreneurs in times of crisis through the lens of compensatory control theory

ABSTRACT Guided by the psychological resilience perspective and compensatory control theory, this study examined the psychological resilience of small tourism business (STB) entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 outbreak between January 2020 and April 2023. Qualitative face-to-face interviews with 21 entrepreneurs of STBs in Macao, China were conducted. The findings showed that entrepreneurs faced different stages of uncertainty during the pandemic, which led them to draw on various personal and external resources in their compensatory control strategies. Also, the types of resources the entrepreneurs drew on varied depending on their degree of control over the uncertainties in various stages. When a certain degree of control was improved, entrepreneurs’ reliance on particular types of resources would decrease, and vice versa. This study contributed a novel approach to examining the psychological resilience of small business entrepreneurs during the pandemic, especially the various stages of uncertainty they faced, and the compensatory control strategies they adopted. In addition, this study highlighted the importance of understanding the dynamic between one’s degree of control over uncertainties and the use of personal and external resources. Practical suggestions were also given to the relevant stakeholders for ways to provide timely and appropriate assistance to the STBs.

Political Corporate Social Responsibility in Small Tourism Business: The Case of a Finnish Sled Dog Kennel

Political Corporate Social Responsibility in Small Tourism Business: The Case of a Finnish Sled Dog Kennel

STUDY OF THE PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SMALL TOURISM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF ALMATY

This study is based on an understanding of the state of development of small tourism businesses in Almaty, one of the oldest settlements located along the Great Silk Road. The aim of the study was to obtain accurate data on the current state of development of small tourism businesses in Almaty and to identify problems and prospects. In the course of the research, 655 questionnaire responses from business owners and managers meeting the selection criteria were selected and rigorously monitored over a period of 3 months. As a result of the study, the most important problems of small tourism businesses in Almaty were identified, which include: 75.7% of respondents lacked knowledge about tourism activities; 53.6% of entrepreneurs do not conclude contracts with employees; 82% of business representatives do not have marketing plans; and, as a consequence, inability to obtain loans from banks; and the consequences of the war in Ukraine. However, we also saw some positive trends in the survey: the willingness of respondents to overcome the consequences and the crisis of the covid pandemic-19; motivation to develop their own business; 28.7% of young entrepreneurs; 74.7% of individual entrepreneurs invest in small tourism businesses. Thus, this study is an auxiliary tool for solving the problem of sustainable development of tourism infrastructure of Almaty, service activities, problems arising in small tourism business.

E-Commerce as a Medium for Tourism Promotion

This research aims to discover the influence of promotions by tourism startup company in increasing sales. The method used in this research was qualitative method with survey. The result of this research indicated that promotions conducted by startup company were able to increase the sales of small tourism business. Through this promotion, small tourism business that implemented conventional customer approach was introduced to ecommerce. The conclusion of this research is startup company can be a means and media of promotion for small tourism business, and as a result, both parties get the expected benefits.

Determinants of improving small tourism business performance and entrepreneurs’ quality of life: evidence from a three-year longitudinal study

ABSTRACT This research attempts to identify the determinants and impacts of performance on small tourism entrepreneurs’ quality of life and tourism attitudes. Consistent three-year data were collected from 198, 191, and 194 small tourism entrepreneurs in Global Geopark Yuntai Mountain, China. The results found that either entrepreneur characteristics, including business skills, locus of control, autonomy, social relations, and autonomy, or enterprise characteristics, featuring innovation, management, and policy intervention, significantly contribute to entrepreneurial performance. The model also suggests that entrepreneurial performance significantly affects QOL rather than attitudes toward tourism. Implications can be applied for policymakers to promote tourism sustainability for destinations.

Living with Colours and Pride: Tourism, Ethnicity, and Gender in Yunnan, China

The current research attempts to understand how gender relationship, livelihood, social structure, and identity evolve within tourism development. Data were collected on the sites from participant observations, in-depth interviews, and focus groups over the course of 12 research field trips from 1995 to 2019. This research provides evidence that family-based, small tourism business appears to survive well in volatile times. When family members establish their own network as equal decision makers, they tend to work together in tourism and help each other, leading to gender equality and interdependence in the relationship. They were also found to have expanded into other income streams and contributed to the career advancement of other members in the family or even the wider community. Gender gaps appear to be reduced, with ethnic woman often conducting better business than their male counterparts. Additionally, ethnic women have the opportunity to explore the potentials of their own capacity. They come into contact with the outside world and gain better social capital, along with expanding choices, and social recognition. They work hard as the hostess with dedication, warm heartedness, and local knowledge, winning respect and trust from the tourists. When ethnic women make an income directly from tourism, no matter how small it is, they have made a great step away from the previous patriarchal dominance. Tourism provides more choices for life with gender equality.

Factors influencing business recovery from compound disasters: Evidence from Australian micro and small tourism businesses

This study examines the factors affecting the recovery of micro and small tourism businesses in the context of the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. An ordered probit model is employed to analyse survey data from 223 tourism businesses in Victoria, Australia. The results reveal that planned resilience, risk management and connectedness have a positive impact, whereas business age and size and compound disasters have a negative impact on the recovery speed of micro and small businesses. Findings from the study contribute to the empirical literature on micro and small tourism business recovery in the events of compound disasters and provide implications to assist businesses in building resilience to future shocks.

Justice and community citizenship behavior for the environment: small tourism business entrepreneurs’ perspectives

Small tourism business entrepreneurs (STBEs) are important stakeholders in rural destinations, so that their community citizenship behavior for the environment (CCBE) greatly influences the sustainable development of rural tourism communities. This paper thus focuses on STBEs’ CCBE. Guided by equity theory and social exchange theory, this article examines the impact of perceived justice on CCBE and the mediating roles of place identity and subjective well-being in that process. The survey data was collected from 434 STBEs in rural China. Results indicate that perceived justice positively relates to place identity and subjective well-being. Furthermore, place identity and subjective well-being fully mediate the effect of perceived justice on CCBE. These findings offer a newer understanding of the underlying mechanism between perceived justice and CCBE and offer implications for destination managers to promote sustainable development of rural destinations.

Socio-cultural sustainability and small tourism businesses

Early assumptions pertaining to the sustainability of small tourism businesses (STBs) have been answered specifically as it relates to environmental sustainability. What is less well documented and still unclear is the extent to which STBs enhance the socio-cultural sustainability of the destination. This lacuna is surprising, given the development of indicators of sustainable tourism. This study therefore fills this gap by utilizing sustainability indicators to examine the extent to which small tourism businesses, across a number of sectors, contribute to destination sustainability. Using a conceptual approach premised upon principles of socio-cultural sustainability to construct the reference condition for indicator development, the study found that businesses performed better on indicators related to equity and cultural conservation but had mixed performance in the area of social cohesion, and were borderline on empowerment. The theoretical contribution of the study is that it provides operational validity to the assumptions governing small tourism businesses and socio-cultural sustainability by employing indicators developed through the scientific consensus approach. Using this approach, the study is able to measure socio-cultural sustainability contributions across myriad sectors.

Unveiling the Impact of Psychological Traits on Innovative Financial Decision-making in Small Tourism Businesses

Understanding factors affecting innovative financial decision-making involves the usage of more than one theory-driven model including those related to psychological behaviour (e.g. theory of planned behaviour). This study validates a conceptual framework extending the traditional financing model (TFM) and behavioural financial decision (BFD) to explain innovative financial decision-making utilising both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Based on a sample of 140 small tourism businesses, employing structured equation modelling, the findings reinforce the importance of the behavioural approach on innovative financial decision-making in small tourism businesses. The findings does not only make a respectable contribution the field, but also offer a practical evidence for the adaptation of the theory of planned behaviour in developing countries.

Improving Human Resources Motivation In Tourism Entrepreneurship : A Review


 The review of this article will discuss how to increase the motivation of human resources in entrepreneurship in the tourism sector. Rural areas can benefit from the entrepreneurial dynamics created by small tourism businesses, especially when linked to the lifestyle of each entrepreneur. Several researchers regarding the contribution of small tourism businesses to improve the rural economy. The potential role of rural communities to increase tourism in rural areas should not be ignored. Related to increasing the motivation of human resources in entrepreneurship in the field of tourism. This study explores the motivations and management practices of tourism entrepreneurship as well as the consequences of community actions, considering the data obtained from several small tourism entrepreneurs, the efficiency and success of entrepreneurship.

The current state of small and medium-sized businesses in tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic

The article examines the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, spreading globally, on the economy, including the current state and prospects for the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the tourism sector. When writing the article, the authors reviewed scientific papers, statistical information and legislative documents related to entrepreneurship in the field of tourism. The categories of business entities in Kazakhstan and the conditions of their functioning are shown. The analysis of the current state of entrepreneurship in the field of tourism is carried out. The impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on tourism at the international and local levels was also analyzed. In order to restore and develop the tourism sector, it was concluded that there is a large share of state support for small and medium-sized businesses, the application of innovation and digitalization policies.

Reflecting on the Effects of Disruptive Innovation in South Africa’s Accommodation Subsector: A Focus on Emerging Black-Owned Businesses

South Africa’s tourism industry has experienced significant changes since 1994. These changes have been propelled by the government’s developmental policies with the aim being to redress the imbalances of past racial injustices. The tourism and hospitality industries remain dominated by white-owned enterprises as well as by large and well-established international brands. In light of this narrative, this paper reflects on how the ever-growing online dominion offers palpable opportunities to deal with the ongoing struggles faced by existing and emerging black-owned small tourism businesses in South Africa. Specifically, the paper reviews key literature on disruptive innovation in the sharing accommodation economy. An important take from the literature is that for emerging black-owned accommodation ventures to succeed in the digital era, there needs to be a strategic shift in how they understand new market trends in the industry. The latter is imperative for their success and sustainability in a post-pandemic world.