An Investigation of Entrepreneurial Motivation: Boutique Hotels in Northern Thailand

Purpose – entrepreneurship scholars have argued extensively that the phenomenon of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial motivation cannot be studied in isolation from their broader socioeconomic environment. This study addresses this gap by examining the entrepreneurial motivation of hotel entrepren...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tourism and hospitality management 2021-05, Vol.27 (1), p.205-222
Main Authors: Chernbumroong, Sainatee, Skokic, Vlatka, Lockwood, Andrew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Data collection
entrepreneurial motivation
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship
hotel entrepreneurs
Hotels & motels
lifestyle orientation
Lifestyles
Motivation
Profits
qualitative methodology
Qualitative research
Research methodology
Thailand
Tourism
Transition economies
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Summary:Purpose – entrepreneurship scholars have argued extensively that the phenomenon of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial motivation cannot be studied in isolation from their broader socioeconomic environment. This study addresses this gap by examining the entrepreneurial motivation of hotel entrepreneurs in Northern Thailand. The study also investigates how various mediating factors and motivations to start a business shape tourism entrepreneurs' behaviour in relation to growth strategies. Design/ Methodology/ Approach – qualitative research was conducted in Northern Thailand 2012 and the follow-up study in 2019. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used. The primary data collection method was semi-structured interviews. Findings – the study identifies the coexistence of both lifestyle and growth-oriented entrepreneurs. The results show that the entrepreneurial decision to enter the hotel industry was not solely determined by the entrepreneur's own actions, but significantly by the family. The role of family in business creation is directive and not facilitative. Business growth was a desirable strategy for both lifestyle and growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Originality of the research – study shows that entrepreneurial motivation cannot be properly understood if it is studied in isolation from the wider socio-economic context. Moreover, it challenges the prevailing classification of tourism entrepreneurs into lifestyle-oriented and growthoriented.
ISSN:1330-7533
1847-3377
DOI:10.20867/thm.27.1.12