Entrepreneurial behaviours and managerial approach of lifestyle entrepreneurs in surf tourism: an exploratory study

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to explore the managerial approach and the entrepreneurial behaviours of tourism lifestyle entrepreneurs with a focus on the niche market of surf sports schools. This study was carried out in Sardinia, a Mediterranean island and an emerging destination in surf tourism. Data were mainly derived from semi-structured interviewees with 22 entrepreneurs in combination with participant observation. Lifestyle entrepreneurs were found to be innovative, proactive in taking business decisions while tending to be neither risk-takers nor competitive. Moreover, cooperation between competitors was notable. The results also highlighted that many entrepreneurs seized a business opportunity mainly for personal reasons related to enjoying a good lifestyle, being in an attractive natural and human environment, and seeking autonomy at work. Furthermore, the findings revealed travel experience, an inclination towards mobility, and an informal managerial approach.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

ORCID

Nicoletta Fadda http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3106-1346

Notes

1 Four dimensions have been explored in this analysis. Considering one of the purposes of the study - to investigate entrepreneurial behaviors of lifestyle entrepreneurs - autonomy was not considered as it deals with the organizational environment that favors the implementation of new ideas. As many previously studied did before, researchers selected which entrepreneurial behaviors investigate and purposely excluded autonomy. Furthermore, a recent theoretical contribution on sport entrepreneurship did not embrace autonomy among the entrepreneurial features (Ratten, 2012).