Small Tourism Enterprise Network formation in rural destinations: integrating ICT and community in Western Southland New Zealand

iv Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 1.1 Rationale and significance of the study . 1 1.1.1 Social capital and rural tourism networks . 4 1.2 Research aim and objectives . 8 1.2.1 Research questions: . 9 1.3 Organisation of the thesis . 9 Chapter 2: Tourism, STE networks and technology . 13 2.1 The regulation approach and ‘new tourism’ . 13 2.1.1 From Fordism to flexible accumulation . 15 2.1.2 The new moral tourist and the need for collaboration . 21 2.1.3 The host community . 26 2.2 Networks, clusters and small rural tourism enterprise . 29 2.2.1 Network theory . 29 2.2.2 Government policy, networks and clusters . 38 2.3 Social networks, social capital and tourism . 40 2.3.1 Social capital and rural tourism . 42 2.4 STE networks in rural destinations . 51 2.5 Tourism networks, ICT and government initiatives . 59 2.5.1 Community informatics for tourism . 63 2.6 Summary . 69 Chapter 3: Research design and method . 70 3.1 Research framework . 70 3.1.1 Determining a methodology . 70 3.1.2 Research design . 72 3.2 Case study: Rural STE network formation in Western Southland . 75 3.2.1 Situating the research . 78 3.2.2 Web-raising in Western Southland . 80 3.3 Collecting the data.82 3.4 Doing Grounded Theory . 88 3.4.1 Role of the researcher . 89 3.4.2 Analysing the data . 92 Chapter 4: STE network formation in Western Southland . 101 4.1. The evolution of a rural tourism network . 101 4.1.1 The emergence of formal network structures 2004–2006 . 101 4.1.2 A point of collaboration: www.westernsouthland. co.nz . 103 4.1.3 The pioneers of tourism in Western Southland . 106 4.1. 4 Western Southland’s iconic attractions . 107 4.2 Factors affecting network formation . 114 4.2.1 Pioneering ideals and what it means to be a ‘Kiwi’ . 116 4.2.2 Pioneers, incomers and regional differences . 120 4.2.3 Geographic proximity and value homophily . 126 4.2.4 Enhancing community attachment . 131 4.2.5 Stimulating the local economy . 133 4.2.6 Impact of the local political climate on network formation . 136 4.2. 7 Minimising resource dependency . 138 4.3 Entering the tourism network . 142 4.4 Summary . 144 Chapter 5: Integrating ICT in rural tourism network formation . 146 5.1 Western Southland: ‘Podzone’ Country . 146 5.1.1 STE relationships and linkages: www.westernsouthland. co.nz. 152 5.1.2 ‘Affiliates’ on STE listings. 159 5.2 Engagement and logistics – key lessons learnt . 163 5.3 Web-raising and tourism network development . 173 5.3.1 Web-raising: Impact on STE business performance . 175 5.3.2 Linking to schools and the broader community . 180 5.3.3 Volunteering and support for network development . 183 5.3.4 Intangible assets of tourism: Community lore and local champions . 188 5.4 Summary . 191 Chapter 6: STE network formation through a theoretical lens . 193 6.1 The regulation approach: . 194 6.1.1 The place of STE in the global–local nexus of tourism development . 197 6.2 Social network theory: STE networks and the role of the state . 205 6.3 Integrating ICT in STE network formation. 216 6.3.1 Community informatics and tourism . 218 6.3.2 Web-raising and new media . 221 Chapter 7: Conclusions and future research agenda . 229 7.1 Research summary . 229 7.1.1 How are rural STE networks formed? 231 7.1.2 The role of ICT in forming and strengthening STE networks . 233 7.2 Towards a theory of integrating ICT in rural STE network formation . 234 7.2.1 An enabling environment for STE network formation. 234 7.2.2 Social well-being indicators to guide rural STE network formation . 236 7.2.3 Facilitating entry to the network . 236 7.3 The contribution of the research . 237 7.4 Future research direction . 239 References . 240 APPENDICES . 264