Examining social capital among wildlife tourism microentrepreneurs

The concept of social capital is burgeoning in the entrepreneurship literature. Social capital collectively refers to the linkages inside social networks and the value of all the tangible and intangible resources embedded in... [ view full abstract ]

The concept of social capital is burgeoning in the entrepreneurship literature. Social capital collectively refers to the linkages inside social networks and the value of all the tangible and intangible resources embedded in those networks. Tourism entrepreneurship is a risk-laden, opportunity seeking behavior, where entrepreneurs constantly seek information, ideas and resources from trusted social networks. There is a paucity of literature on tourism entrepreneurship, although it is a ubiquitous phenomenon globally. Literature on wildlife tourism entrepreneurship is even rare within that context. In general, there is a lack of understanding about the functionality of wildlife tourism entrepreneurship, and extent to which social capital is developed among these entrepreneurs. This study attempts to address that gap by examining the forms of social capital (i.e., bonding and bridging) developed among small-scale (i.e., micro) wildlife tourism entrepreneurs, measured using a social network analysis approach. This study was carried out in North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound Region. Thirty-seven wildlife tourism microentrepreneurs were recruited based on their involvement to businesses related to recreational fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Data were collected through in-person structured interviews. Netdraw program in UCINET was used to perform data analysis. The study will present findings in terms of visualization of the entire network of microentrepreneurs, subsequent k-core, and cut-point analyses, which will allow identifying and illustrating bridging ties within the network. Results indicate that wildlife tourism microentrepreneurs interact with each other in a bridging network structure, indicating their effort to garner bridging social capital. Entrepreneurs occupying key bridging positions within the network connect otherwise disparate sub-groups. Qualitative analysis of data collected during in-person interviews revealed that participants perceived the ability to share information and resources with other members of the network as necessary for entrepreneurial success. This study illustrates how key individuals, specifically those who occupy bridging positions within the network, facilitate the transmission of information and resources that could enhance success among wildlife tourism microentrepreneurs.