Hungry for Growth? Small and Medium‐sized Tourism Enterprise (SMTE) Business Ambitions, Knowledge Acquisition and Industry Engagement

Abstract

Differences are identified between the preferred information and learning channels of small and medium-sized tourism enterprise (SMTE) proprietors, who have an interest in business operations (growers) or who have relatively less interest (lifestylers). Lifestylers sign up frequently to tourism industry associations, whereas growers have a tendency to join generic business groupings. The most common information for both groups is marketing related, and intensive use is made of online information to support day-to-day business operations. In aggregate, SMTE proprietors are avid information seekers, attaching importance to the advice provided from experienced and trusted sources. Growers proactively gather information about general management as well as tourism-specific knowledge. Adopting a 'one size fits all' approach to providing information for the SMTE sector is unlikely to be effective.

Innovation in tourism: Re-conceptualising and measuring the absorptive capacity of the hotel sector

“…Related concepts been used to interrogate small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger organisations (Fogg, 2012;Harris, McAdam, McCausland and Reid, 2013;Tejada and Moreno, 2013). Further, there is emerging evidence that tourism enterprises are particularly dependent on external knowledge, such as that which may be gleaned from suppliers, especially when compared with businesses in other sectors (Williams and Shaw, 2011;King, Breen and Whitelaw, 2012). Following the development of a validated instrument for its measurement, this paper reports the findings of a survey into levels of absorptive capacity within the British hotel sector and considers the implications of the findings for how absorptive capacity should be theorised in tourism.…”

Managerial Hubris, Trade Associations and Regulatory Knowledge in Micro‐Firms

“…Existing research has identified a number of information sources used by micro/SME firms, such as the internet, personal networks, the media, external professionals (consultants, accountants) and trade associations (Bennett and Ramsden, 2007;Bennett and Robson, 1999b;King, Breen and Whitelaw, 2014;Peck et al, 2012). Existing research has identified a number of information sources used by micro/SME firms, such as the internet, personal networks, the media, external professionals (consultants, accountants) and trade associations (Bennett and Ramsden, 2007;Bennett and Robson, 1999b;King, Breen and Whitelaw, 2014;Peck et al, 2012).…”

The awareness and use on government assistance programs among tourism entrepreneurs in Malaysia

“…Tourism Small and Medium Enterprises (TSMEs) performance and survival in the industry are particularly important to Malaysia because apart from their key role in delivering tourism products to the tourist, they also play an active role in advancing the local community (King et al, 2014;Set, 2013). It is essential to observe TSMEs performance to ensure TSMEs reach their full potential.…”