Abstract
This article describes how small entrepreneurs in the tourism industry of Las Peñitas, Nicaragua, try to cope with contextual changes caused by the development of tourism. The research method for this article is ethnographic. During the fieldwork in Las Peñitas, multi-qualitative research methods have been used, like participant observation and interviews. Hoping to obtain a substantial share of the income-growth derived from the new industry, part of the local population shifted from their previous jobs to professions in the tourism industry. Most local entrepreneurs, however, are hesitant to change industry from mainly fishing to tourism. Due to their economic and cultural advantage, some foreign entrepreneurs appear to quickly achieve monopoly positions in the local tourism industry. This increases frustration among local entrepreneurs about stagnating local economic growth, while watching foreign entrepreneurs run more successful businesses. Previous studies showed that tourism is booming in Nicaragua, but the actual impact on the local economy lacks empirical support. The case study of Las Peñitas is used to explore the impact of tourism on the cultural change of small tourism entrepreneurs and tell the stories of what happens behind the successful appearance of global tourism growth figures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 171-189 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | International journal of business and globalisation |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 10 Jan 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2018 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Cultural change
- Local and foreign entrepreneurs
- Nicaragua
- Tourism community
Cite this
}
Foreign monopoly and local disappointment in a small-scale tourism community : The case of Las Peñitas, Nicaragua. / Zuidam, Samantha; Roessingh, Carel.
In: International journal of business and globalisation, Vol. 20, No. 2, 02.2018, p. 171-189.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Foreign monopoly and local disappointment in a small-scale tourism community
T2 - The case of Las Peñitas, Nicaragua
AU - Zuidam, Samantha
AU - Roessingh, Carel
PY - 2018/2
Y1 - 2018/2
N2 - This article describes how small entrepreneurs in the tourism industry of Las Peñitas, Nicaragua, try to cope with contextual changes caused by the development of tourism. The research method for this article is ethnographic. During the fieldwork in Las Peñitas, multi-qualitative research methods have been used, like participant observation and interviews. Hoping to obtain a substantial share of the income-growth derived from the new industry, part of the local population shifted from their previous jobs to professions in the tourism industry. Most local entrepreneurs, however, are hesitant to change industry from mainly fishing to tourism. Due to their economic and cultural advantage, some foreign entrepreneurs appear to quickly achieve monopoly positions in the local tourism industry. This increases frustration among local entrepreneurs about stagnating local economic growth, while watching foreign entrepreneurs run more successful businesses. Previous studies showed that tourism is booming in Nicaragua, but the actual impact on the local economy lacks empirical support. The case study of Las Peñitas is used to explore the impact of tourism on the cultural change of small tourism entrepreneurs and tell the stories of what happens behind the successful appearance of global tourism growth figures.
AB - This article describes how small entrepreneurs in the tourism industry of Las Peñitas, Nicaragua, try to cope with contextual changes caused by the development of tourism. The research method for this article is ethnographic. During the fieldwork in Las Peñitas, multi-qualitative research methods have been used, like participant observation and interviews. Hoping to obtain a substantial share of the income-growth derived from the new industry, part of the local population shifted from their previous jobs to professions in the tourism industry. Most local entrepreneurs, however, are hesitant to change industry from mainly fishing to tourism. Due to their economic and cultural advantage, some foreign entrepreneurs appear to quickly achieve monopoly positions in the local tourism industry. This increases frustration among local entrepreneurs about stagnating local economic growth, while watching foreign entrepreneurs run more successful businesses. Previous studies showed that tourism is booming in Nicaragua, but the actual impact on the local economy lacks empirical support. The case study of Las Peñitas is used to explore the impact of tourism on the cultural change of small tourism entrepreneurs and tell the stories of what happens behind the successful appearance of global tourism growth figures.
KW - Cultural change
KW - Local and foreign entrepreneurs
KW - Nicaragua
KW - Tourism community
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042601211&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042601211&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1504/IJBG.2018.089866
DO - 10.1504/IJBG.2018.089866
M3 - Article
VL - 20
SP - 171
EP - 189
JO - International journal of business and globalisation
JF - International journal of business and globalisation
SN - 1753-3627
IS - 2
ER -