The integration of tourism entrepreneurs into inter-firm cooperation networks in rural environments: A relational analysis

Abstract

Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and community-based entrepreneurial projects in rural areas face several challenges imposed by the environment. Furthermore, they must find a way to configure more innovative destinations. Inter-firm cooperation networks (ICN) are structures of social relations that allow them to take advantage of local resources and activate business capacities. This paper provides a literature review in order to identify the factors that determine the social embeddedness (SE) of tourism entrepreneurs in ICN in rural environments. In addition, the advantages that these factors generate for their involvement in cooperative relations are reported. This research is exploratory and descriptive, comprising the review of ninety-two scientific papers. A methodological design based on Thematic Analysis (TA) was selected. Forty-one subcategories were created from the data, which correspond to the factors and advantages of SE. The Atlas. ti software was used to analyse the relations between subcategories and Gephi software was used to visualise relations and code communities through a network. Among the determining factors are strong local ties and ties with external actors.