Sustainable urban tourism success factors and the economic performance of small tourism enterprises

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to introduce the relationship between sustainable urban tourism success factors and the economic performance of small tourism enterprises (STEs). The related data was obtained from 330 STEs business owners/managers in Eskisehir (Turkey). To determine the dimensions Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used for verifying these dimensions. Structural Equation Modelling was applied in order to introduce the relation which is foreseen. As a result of the analysis, seven dimensions of urban tourism success factors and two dimensions of the economic performance of STEs have been determined and a significant relation was found between them. These findings provide an insight to literature and new directions and suggestions for local governments, regional marketing organizations and business managers on how tourism development and sustainability can be achieved in urban areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Sustainability
• urban tourism
• success factors
• small tourism enterprises
• economic performance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Birgul Aydin http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3459-2385

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission under the grant no: 1503E127.