Perceived Benefits of Micro and Small Enterprises in Developing Pro-Poor Tourism

  • Rudrendu RAY Department of Marketing, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
  • Sazu SARDAR Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and Graduate Fellow, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Program, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand/ Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8572-9081
  • Fidella Nga Huong TIEW Faculty of Business, Curtin University, Malaysia
  • Samuel Folorunso ADEYINKA-OJO Faculty of Business, Curtin University, Malaysia
  • Md. Abdul ALIM Department of Marketing, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
  • Sanjana SOBHAN Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract

Pro-poor tourism (PPT) is revealed as a significant means of reducing poverty. However, inadequate awareness about the relationship between the poor local communities and the perceived benefits deriving from the tourism MSEs prevents the application of the PPT approach. Thus, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this paper examines how tourism Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) benefit poor communities. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from 25 participants through semi-structured questionnaires and using NVivo12 software data was analyzed. The study found that the economic benefits focus on the standard of living, employment, tourism network and business expansion while social recognition and environmental awareness, which have a big impact on society, are marked as the novel outcomes which trigger the local communities for being engaged in tourism MSEs as non-economic benefits. This study could help the policymakers of developing countries to eradicate poverty and achieve Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 (Zero Poverty and No Hunger).

References

[1] Adeyinka-Ojo, S. 2018. A strategic framework for analysing employability skills deficits in rural hospitality and tourism destinations. Tourism Management Perspectives, 27: 47-54. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.04.005
[2] Alim, M. A., et al. 2022. The Role of Tourism Supply Chain Management in Developing Informal Empowerment of Rural Communities in Bangladesh. 15(4): 349-366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJASM.2022.128229
[3] Ara, M. A., Hossain, M. E., and Sardar, S. 2020. An exploratory Approach to Pro-Poor Tourism and Poverty Alleviation in Some Selective Tourism Destinations of Bangladesh. Journal of Business Studies, 13(1), 1. JBS-ISSN 2303-9884.
[4] Ashley, C., and Roe, D. 2001. Pro-poor tourism strategies: Making tourism work for the poor: A review of experience. ODI London. ISBN 0850035228
[5] Ashley, C., Ashley, C., Goodwin, H., and Roe, D. 2001. Pro-poor tourism strategies: Expanding opportunities for the poor. ODI London.
[6] Ashley, C., Boyd, C., and Goodwin, H. 2000. Pro-poor tourism: Putting poverty at the heart of the tourism agenda. ODI London.
[7] Aston, J., Wen, J., and Yang, S. 2022. Tourists' perceptions of and reactions to child sex tourism: an exploratory qualitative investigation. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics(ahead-of-print). DOI:10.1108/APJML-08-2021-0589
[8] Borden, D. S., Coles, T., and Shaw, G. 2019. Social marketing, sustainable tourism, and small/medium size tourism enterprises: Challenges and opportunities for changing guest behaviour. Marketing for Sustainable Tourism, 35-52. eBook ISBN9780203711668.
[9] Briedenhann, J. 2013. The potential of small tourism operators in the promotion of pro-poor tourism. In Event Tourism and Cultural Tourism (pp. 252-268): Routledge. eBook ISBN 9780203722268
[10] Casidy, R., and Nyadzayo, M. 2019. Drivers and outcomes of relationship quality with professional service firms: An SME owner-manager perspective. Industrial Marketing Management, 78, 27-42. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2017.09.011
[11] Casidy, R., Wymer, W., and O'Cass, A. 2018. Enhancing hotel brand performance through fostering brand relationship orientation in the minds of consumers. Tourism Management, 66, 72-84. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.11.008
[12] Chhetri, B. B. K. 2019. The Dynamics of Pro-Poor Strategies: Analysis of Four Different Community Groups in Nepal. Formath, 18, 002. DOI: 10.15684/formath.18.002
[13] Çolak, O., Kiper, V. O., and Kingir, S. (2023). Engaging poverty with tourism: Pro-poor tourism perspective. Journal of multidisciplinary academic tourism, 8(1), 93-100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31822/jomat.2023-8-1-93
[14] Cuervo, J.C. and Cheong, K.U. 2017. Protecting the survival of local SMEs during rapid tourism growth: ongoing lessons from Macao. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 9(3): 316-334. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-02-2017-0009
[15] Fletcher, C., Pforr, C., and Brueckner, M. 2019. Factors influencing Indigenous engagement in tourism development: An international perspective. Sustainable Tourism and Indigenous Peoples, 34-54. eBook ISBN9781315112053
[16] Gonzo, F. C. 2023. Pro-poor tourism and poverty alleviation. In Inclusive Community Development Through Tourism and Hospitality Practices, pp. 125-159: IGI Global. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-6796-1.ch006
[17] Gössling, S., Scott, D., and Hall, C. M. 2020. Pandemics, tourism and global change: a rapid assessment of COVID-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(1). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1758708
[18] Hasan, M. K., Abdullah, S. K., Lew, T. Y., and Islam, M. F. 2020. Determining factors of tourists’ loyalty to beach tourism destinations: a structural model. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 32(1): 169-187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-08-2018-0334
[19] Hasan, M. K., Ray, R., and Neela, N. M. 2021. Tourists’ Behavioural Intention in Coastal Tourism Settings: Examining the Mediating Role of Attitude to Behaviour. Tourism Planning and Development, 1-18. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2021.2001035
[20] Hassan, M. U., and Awan, M. S. 2023. Towards A Strategy for Pro-Poor Tourism Development in Pakistan: Exploring New Horizons. Journal of Education and Social Studies, 4(3): 486-498. DOI:https://doi.org/10.52223/jess.2023.4308
[21] Hossain, M. E., Quaddus, M., and Shanka, T. 2015. The association of quality, risk, sacrifice, satisfaction, and loyalty at the destination level: A structural model. Tourism Analysis,20(4): 381-397. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3727/108354215X14400815080406
[22] Islam, F., and Carlsen, J. 2016. Indigenous communities, tourism development and extreme poverty alleviation in rural Bangladesh. Tourism Economics, 22(3): 645-654. DOI:https://doi.org/10.5367/te.2014.0456
[23] Khazaei, A., Elliot, S., and Joppe, M. 2015. An application of stakeholder theory to advance community participation in tourism planning: The case for engaging immigrants as fringe stakeholders. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(7): 1049-1062. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2015.1042481
[24] Mao, N. 2015. The role of tourism in poverty reduction: a case study of Siem Reap-Angkor region, Cambodia. (PhD). Victoria University, Australia.
[25] Mao, N., DeLacy, T., Grunfeld, H. J. I. J. o. E., and Development, R. (2013). Local livelihoods and the tourism value chain: A case study in Siem Reap-Angkor Region, Cambodia. 4(2): 120-126.
[26] Maureira, T. M., and Stenbacka, S. 2015. Indigenous tourism and processes of resilience–about communicative strategies among tourism workers in Québec. Acta Borealia, 32(2): 148-170. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/08003831.2015.1090204
[27] Mowforth, M., and Munt, I. 2016. Tourism and sustainability: Development, globalisation and new tourism in the third world. Routledge. ISBN 0–203–89105–8
[28] Mshenga, P. M., Richardson, R. B., Njehia, B. K., and Birachi, E. A. 2010. The contribution of tourism to micro and small enterprise growth. Tourism Economics, 16(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5367/te.2010.0018
[29] Page, S. J., et al. 2017. Case study: Wellness, tourism and small business development in a UK coastal resort: Public engagement in practice. Tourism Management, 60: 466-477. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.12.014
[30] Pyke, S., Hartwell, H., Blake, A., and Hemingway, A. 2016. Exploring well-being as a tourism product resource. Tourism Management, 55: 94-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.02.004
[31] Rahman, S. M., Carlson, J., and Chowdhury, N. H. 2022. SafeCX: a framework for safe customer experience in omnichannel retailing. Journal of Services Marketing, 36(4): 499-529. DOI: 10.1108/JSM-04-2021-0114
[32] Ray, R. 2019. Micro and small enterprises involvement in pro-poor tourism: Evidence from Bangladesh. (MPhil Thesis). Curtin University, Australia.
[33] Ray, R., et al. 2021. Micro and Small Enterprises Engagement in Pro-poor Tourism: Challenges and Solutions. Review of International Geographical Education Online, 11(8): 46-59. DOI: 10.48047/rigeo.11.08.5
[34] Saayman, M., and Giampiccoli, A. 2016. Community-based and pro-poor tourism: Initial assessment of their relation to community development. European Journal of Tourism Research, 12: 145-190. ISSN-Online: 1314-0817. Available at: https://ejtr.vumk.eu/index.php/about/article/download/218/221
[35] Saito, N., Ruhanen, L., Noakes, S., and Axelsen, M. 2018. Community engagement in pro-poor tourism initiatives: fact or fallacy? Insights from the inside. Tourism Recreation Research, 43(2): 175-185. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2017.1406566
[36] Sardar, S., and Rekha, R. S. 2016. Students’ attitude towards beach tourism in Bangladesh: A study on Saint Martin and Cox’s Bazar Sea Beaches. Bangladesh Journal of Tourism, 1(1).
[37] Sardar, S., (2022). Assessing the Effects of COVID-19 on Restaurant Business From Restaurant Owners’ Perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1175. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.849249
[38] Saunders, M., Lewis, P., and Thornhill, A. 2012. Research methods for business students: Pearson education.
[39] Tao, S. (2018). Assessing ecotourism using pro-poor tourism principles: The case of Sraepok Willdlife Sanctuary, Cambodia. Auckland University of Technology,
[40] Thomas, R., Shaw, G., and Page, S. 2011. Understanding small firms in tourism: A perspective on research trends and challenges. Tourism Management, 32(5): 963-976. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.02.003
[41] Tolkach, D., Pearlman, M., and King, B. 2012. Key implementation factors in pro-poor tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 37(1): 3-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2012.11081683
[42] Wasudawan, K., and Rahim, R. 2018. Pro-Poor Tourism and Poverty Alleviation in Sarawak. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 8(10), 929-937. ISSN(e): 2224-4441
[43] Woyo, E., and Musavengane, R. 2023. Has community-based tourism been a useful tool for poverty eradication in Southern African rural destinations? African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 12(2), 521-534. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.383
[44] Xiong, Q., Zheng, Y., Gu, R., Wen, J., and Li, Z. 2023. Perceptions and desires of Chinese senior outbound tourists receiving travel support from adult children: a qualitative study. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 35(3): 645-668. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-12-2021-0894
[45] Zhao, W. 2009. The nature and roles of small tourism businesses in poverty alleviation: Evidence from Guangxi, China. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 14(2): 169-182. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10941660902847229
[46] Zhou, Q., Pu, Y., and Su, C. 2022. The mediating roles of memorable tourism experiences and destination image in the correlation between cultural heritage rejuvenation experience quality and revisiting intention. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-11-2021-0829
[47] BBS. (2021). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Statistics and Informatics Division (SID), Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Published
2023-12-29
How to Cite
RAY, Rudrendu et al. Perceived Benefits of Micro and Small Enterprises in Developing Pro-Poor Tourism. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, [S.l.], v. 14, n. 8, p. 3049 - 3061, dec. 2023. ISSN 2068-7729. Available at: <https://journals.aserspublishing.eu/jemt/article/view/8270>. Date accessed: 26 dec. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.14505/jemt.v14.8(72).06.