Entrepreneurial Motivation and Destination Evolution

Research on the Old Town of Lijiang, China, reveals distinct patterns in entrepreneurial motivation among small tourism business owners as the destination evolves. In the predevelopment stage, livelihood concerns drove a dominant business orientation, while lifestyle motivations—often rooted in personal enjoyment of the site—emerged during early development. However, as tourism rapidly expanded, business-oriented investments surged, reflecting shifting priorities. The study applies an interactive framework to link entrepreneurship and destination evolution, offering insights into how economic, social, and experiential factors shape sustainable tourism development.

Wang, S., Hung, K., & Lin, P. M. C. (2018). Entrepreneurial Motivation and Destination Evolution. Journal of China Tourism Research, 14(2), 158–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/19388160.2018.1456386