Tourism entrepreneurship research: a mixed embeddedness approach

Tourism entrepreneurship is a complex field involving a multitude of interrelated interactions at various levels. Due to its complexity, comprehensive research reviewing its structure has yet to be conducted. To address this gap, we examine the current state of tourism entrepreneurship based on articles published in peer-reviewed journals during the period 2013 to 2023. Grounded on a mixed embeddedness framework, the analysis shows how institutional, infrastructure, cultural, societal, and market environments frame the resources and strategies adopted by tourism entrepreneurs, and in turn the interactions between the environments, resources, and strategies which shape the outcomes of such entrepreneurship. The embeddedness analysis shows the dynamic and complex nature of tourism entrepreneurship, which traditional linear thinking struggles to grasp. Consequently, future studies should adopt a more systematic thinking approach, which analyses the ecosystem of tourism entrepreneurship as a complex system of interconnected elements. Providing a more nuanced understanding of the complex field of tourism entrepreneurship, and proposing the systems thinking framework and methodology as a response to this complexity, this study makes a valuable theoretical contribution. Furthermore, it offers practical contributions to tourism entrepreneurs, practitioners, and policymakers, informing their business operations and the development of policies and programs to support tourism entrepreneurship.