Climate resources for camping: A resource-based theory perspective

• Published in: Tourism management perspectives 2023-01, Vol.45, p.101072, Article 101072
• Main Authors: Craig, Christopher A., Ma, Siyao, Feng, Song
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Camping; Climate change; Nature-based tourism; Resource-based theory; Weather
• ISSN: 2211-9736; 2211-9744
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tmp.2022.101072

Camping is a salient economic contributor to nature-based tourism that is also beholden to the natural environment. Climate resources are the combination of naturally occurring meteorological variables of empirically observable importance to firm performance. Tourism climatologist are at the forefront of climate resource research, where investigations have been primarily empirically derived rather than guided by theory. Accordingly, we introduce climate resources to the management discipline's resource-based theory, operationalizing climate resources as public goods in addition to other public goods like open access innovation. We investigate the value, rareness, and inimitability of climate resources at 36 managed United States National Park Service campgrounds from 1984 to 2019. Results spatially and temporally demonstrate (1) the value of climate resources to firm performance, (2) that climate resource value varies geographically, and (3) that climate resources are becoming rarer at lower latitude and altitude geographies. Implications, limitations, and future research directions are provided. •Climate resources are introduced to Resource-Based Theory.•Climate resources are meteorological variables of value to firm performance.•Depending on time and space, climate resources for camping are valuable.•Depending on time and space, climate resources for camping are rare and inimitable.•Climate resources for camping are improving at higher altitudes and latitudes.