The purpose of this paper is to examine the business model of a successful social tourism business in Granada, Nicaragua. The study assesses how the business provides an avenue to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the business model of a successful social tourism business in Granada, Nicaragua. The study assesses how the business provides an avenue to combat the challenges that restrict certain stakeholders from participating in tourism. The case identifies specific mechanisms, such as investing in the local community’s education and favoring local vendors and merchants, as ways in which social tourism businesses can disseminate value among all stakeholders and create a more equitable form of tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
The case study method was chosen for collecting and analyzing data. Data include in-depth interviews with business founders, managers and employees, field observation notes, photographic documentation and additional written documents. Data were analyzed using content analysis.
Findings
The study found that the business was able to produce a high-quality tourism product that disseminated value among all stakeholders. The study also proved the value of the additional building blocks within the Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise, and the clear distinction between “co-creators” and “beneficiaries.”
Originality/value
This study uses the Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise, a model unverified since inception, to analyze a successful social tourism business. It confirms the usefulness of the additional building blocks within the model, and the additional delineations between “co-creators” and “beneficiaries.” Furthermore, the paper recommends these distinctions are extended to all blocks in the canvas, to illustrate the many ways a company can distribute value based on its business model.
Details
Keywords
Alexia F. Franzidis, Steven M. Zinder and Olivia Backston
The purpose of this paper is to examine students’ attitudes toward sustainable dining. It aims to identify the level of importance that students place on specific on-campus…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine students’ attitudes toward sustainable dining. It aims to identify the level of importance that students place on specific on-campus sustainable dining initiatives and the factors that affect their attitudes and behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
A random sample of 197 undergraduate students completed an online survey in the spring semester of 2020. The survey was divided into four sections: demographic and background information; familiarity with on-campus dining, specifically with sustainable on-campus dining initiatives; the level of importance placed on these sustainable practices; and practiced sustainable behaviors.
Findings
Many students placed a high level of importance on common sustainable dining behaviors and practices such as recycling, waste reduction techniques and the use of eco-friendly utensils. Sex was found to be a significant factor in determining students’ attitudes and behaviors. While men had a higher level of knowledge of on-campus sustainable practices at the dining facilities, women consistently placed a higher level of importance on almost all sustainable dining practices. Additionally, the study also found that signage was not an effective method of influencing behavior.
Originality/value
Previous studies that have explored this topic have been limited. Additional research is needed to ascertain if better knowledge of on-campus sustainable dining initiatives can influence students’ inclinations to act more sustainably.
Details
Keywords
Amy Savener and Alexia Franzidis
As tourism numbers continue to explode globally due to burgeoning middle class incomes in Asia as well as continually more fluid international communication technologies and…
Abstract
As tourism numbers continue to explode globally due to burgeoning middle class incomes in Asia as well as continually more fluid international communication technologies and transport, tourism scholars scramble to keep up with outmoded theory grounded in Western continental philosophy. A Western “traveler” often considers her/himself elite and even superior to mass tourists. “Travelers” seek alternative experiences in authentic spaces. In an effort to understand this market, tourism scholars have spent almost half of a century defining and characterizing the pursuit of authenticity; yet this scholarship has been homogeneously Western. In this chapter, we take a giant step back to question what provokes Western tourists to seek authenticity – and puzzle those who do not.