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Author(s): H. Farrell, G. Bosworth & R. Newbery
Abstract:
In this paper we explore the role of in-migrant owners of small tourism firms in
promoting entrepreneurship and developing competition in the tourism economy
of Northumberland.
We hypothesise that through a combination of extra-local
networks and local embeddedness these business owners are not only succeeding
themselves but they are stimulating other local businesses by increasing local
trade, heightening competition and raising standards and aspirations.
The role of in-migrants is further explored in theoretical terms.
Their
networking behaviour and the importance of what Saxena terms “relational
capital” in the process of integrating rural tourism into the wider local economy
is of particular interest given that some of these business owners are recent
arrivals into the area.
Of further interest are the links between place, community
and local products, services and activities.
The ability of in-migrants to create a
sense of place and as well as embedding their businesses within the local
economy is discussed.
Keywords:
business networks, lifestyle businesses, rural development,
entrepreneurship, counterurbanisation, embeddedness, social capital.
1 Introduction:
Tourism contributes some £12bn per annum to rural economies and supports an
estimated 380,000 jobs (Ilbery et al.
[2]) but rural locations attractive to tourists
are not necessarily attractive locations for entrepreneurial endeavour and
economic dynamism.
Rural tourism is dominated by microbusinesses and many
of these are not the main income source for their owners (Getz and Peterson [3]).
...
Pages: 12
Size: 2,884 kb
Paper DOI: 10.2495/SW100641
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