Relational Characteristics

In chapter “Social Innovations in Tourism: Social Practices Contributing to Social Development”, Mosedale and Voll observe that TSE needs to be viewed in the broader context of social innovation which is being driven by neoliberal ideologies. This includes support for government withdrawal from addressing social issues, privatization of social services and a shift of responsibility towards the individual. We also suggest that TSE is a response to a ‘moral’ or ‘caring turn’ that is taking place in response to the excesses of late modern capitalism and the impacts of neoliberal strategies particularly on poor and marginalized communities and individuals (Noddings, 1999). This represents a refocusing of attention on a relational approach to ‘caring for’ individuals and communities rather than an externalized form of ‘caring about’, for example, the production of tourism. While ‘caring for’ highlights a moral commitment to act for the other, ‘caring about’ can deteriorate into a political and utilitarian concern for an issue (e.g. sustainability, poverty alleviation) that may not translate into the ‘caring for’ ethic. In this context where there is a push for social innovation, and the ethics of care, interesting research questions about the relational characteristics of TSE are triggered. Who are the key actors in TSE? What are their relational characteristics? How do they construct their ethical position in relation to the other? And how does this ethical position differ between TSE and other forms of tourism business?

Both Dredge (chapter “Institutional and Policy Support for Tourism Social Entrepreneurship in Tourism”) and Daye and Gill (chapter “Social Enterprise Evaluation: Implications for Tourism Development”) see the need for TSE research to be dynamic and innovative, to respond to, and remain relevant to the complex, ever changing social interactions and evolutionary currents in today’s world. In particular, Dredge highlights the need for researchers to better understand the effects of policy and institutional conditions on the success of social enterprises, and on the scaling and ecologizing of social entrepreneurship into a movement. This requires developing insights into the relational strategies of TSE, the challenges and opportunities of scaling TSE, and the relations between TSE, governments and communities. Furthermore, Mosedale and Voll (chapter “Social Innovations in Tourism: Social Practices Contributing to Social Development”) flag the importance of building relations between TSE and tourism scholars. They argue that tourism researchers with experience in community-based tourism planning must engage in academic and public policy debates on social innovation, and participate in the co-creation of knowledge for and about TSE.

The need to research value chains in TSE is highlighted in chapter “Exploring Social Entrepreneurship in Food Tourism” by Kline et al. They point out that TSE in the food context has many entry points for the social entrepreneur. Food entrepreneurs can leverage contacts within many different microsystems to heighten awareness to neglected positive externalities within the macro system. They suggest that researchers examine all sectors of tourism and hospitality that are attracting TSE activity and analyze the value chain impacts and the various microsystems that each effects. This, they argue, will provide better insight into the impacts on the whole destination.

At the destination level, research opportunities exist to better understand the relational characteristics of TSE within the destination, and how their blended value proposition can add a unique marketing edge. For example, the social and environmental value delivered by TSE will appeal to certain market niches and new attractions and experiences might be identified that can diversify the destination’s offer. Accordingly, Mottiar and Boluk (chapter “Understanding How Social Entrepreneurs Fit into the Tourism Discourse”) see a need for TSEs to be recognized as stakeholders in destination management activities and suggest more research on how they contribute to the destination.