Tourism Entrepreneurship and Family Firms (Touref)

Entrepreneurship and family business are central aspects in the tourism industry. Whether by opportunity and/or necessity, new firms change the status quo in the sector and can bring innovation and differentiation to the industry, apart from becoming an alternative for residents’ rent generation. Many of the firms created in the tourism sector involve the family in their ownership and functioning, and these family firms can generate unique resources and capabilities but also face challenges that need to be studied.

With the aim of exploring situations, dynamics and challenges of entrepreneurship and family firms in the tourism sector, this research group and network addresses strategic topics for the industry from a rigorous and analytical perspective. Increasing and diffusing knowledge about tourism entrepreneurship and family businesses lies at the heart of this initiative.

Activity track

• ITRC was (2020-2023) participating in Erasmus+ project on crisis in SME´s in tourism.
• In 2020, two of the group’s members, Pedro M. Calero Lemes and Desiderio Juan Garcia Almeida, published an article in Tourism Geographies on Immigrant entrepreneur knowledge in the tourism industry of island destinations.

A forthcoming publication titled "Tourism Entrepreneurship: Knowledge and Challenges for a Sustainable Future" is currently in development, initiated by our group.

This book aims to address the imperative need for a fresh perspective on sustainable tourism practices. It accomplishes this goal by delving into the intricate relationship between entrepreneurship in tourism and sustainability. Additionally, it offers novel insights into the evolving role and significance of entrepreneurship in navigating the dynamic and unpredictable landscape of the tourism sector. Central to the book's overarching theme is the pivotal role of knowledge in equipping tourism entrepreneurs to confront the multifaceted challenges they encounter, thereby fostering a sustainable future.

Comprising 10 chapters contributed by 31 authors hailing from diverse regions, primarily across Europe, the book predominantly focuses on Northern and Southern Europe.

We are excited to announce that the book will be published by Palgrave MacMillan, a subdivision of the Springer Group.

Group leader is Desiderio J. García Almeida [dj.garcia @ ulpgc.es], University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Íris Hrund Halldórsdóttir [irish@rmf.is] researcher at the ITRC is the group's secretary.

List of research group members can be viewed here