Social Entrepreneurship in Tourism: A Way to Involve Locals in Tourism Development

Abstract

In developing countries, tourism is typically implemented through a top-down planning approach ([12]; Teye, Sirakaya & Sönmez 2002), and decision-making is mostly based on the interventions of government agencies and large multinational tourism firms [12]. As a result, the dominance of external, often foreign capital, and the marginalization of local people is common (Dola & Mijan 2006; Hampton 2003; [12]). Local communities in developing countries often gain only small advantages from tourism (Hampton 2003; [13]). This has been attributed to local people being exploited and having little power to control the tourism development process. In fact, local communities in developing countries are frequently excluded from tourism development, particularly in decision-making and the management of tourism projects (Teye et al. 2002). Braga maintains that social entrepreneurship is the creation of social impact by developing and implementing a sustainable business model that draws on innovative solutions that benefit the disadvantaged and, ultimately, society at large. This article reviews social entrepreneurship in tourism as a way to participate in tourism. Tourism often neglects the opportunity of local people to involve locals in tourism development in their own area. The positive economy of tourism is often enjoyed by outsiders. This article also slightly draws result on how the tourism social entrepreneurship is implemented. Drawing on in-depth interviews of 37 residents, this study explores the social entrepreneurship in tourism in Madura Island. It is argued that the social entrepreneurship is mostly developed initiatively by the participants and indeed is a way to involve locals to participate in tourism.

Increasing tourism through social entrepreneurship – the case of Croatia

“…Social tourism entrepreneurs are defined as those who conduct tourism business activities that inspire and encourage local communities to participate in carrying out business activities travel. Here there is a strong effort from one to change himself and others by doing tourism business activities (Reindrawati, 2018). It is represented by the establishment of the innovative environment, which ensures tourism entrepreneurial projects that do not present value added only for the tourist, but also for all the local stakeholders (Alkier et al, 2017).…”