Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Bruno Ferreira, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of tourism development and management at the Hainan University-Arizona State University International Tourism College (HAITC) in Haikou, Hainan Province, China. His research is centered around the intersection of tourism, entrepreneurship, and community development, looking at the psychological and environmental antecedents of tourism microentrepreneurship among individuals with vulnerable livelihoods. He has worked in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia as a researcher, instructor, project manager, and consultant in community development projects leveraging the economic muscle of tourism.

Abstract (150 Words)

Leveraging the popularity of the foodie scene, signature farm tourism is emerging as one of the most promising niches for tourism microentrepreneurs. However, both psychological and structural constraints seem to be holding farmers back in their intention to start offering farm experiences or expanding their existing farm tourism portfolio. We argue that Permatourism-enabled bridging social capital affords farmers sources of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, which enhances entrepreneurial intention. To test our conceptual model, we surveyed 207 farmers in NC and used SEM to examine relationships between constructs. The analysis revealed an adequate model fit and strong significant relationships between bridging social capital and both dimensions of tourism microentrepreneurial self-efficacy. Internal self-efficacy was strongly and significantly associated with entrepreneurial intention, while external self-efficacy was non-significant. We provide meaning to these results through triangulation with qualitative data from five years of participatory action-research with farm tourism microentrepreneurs.

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The Effect of Synergies Between the Informal and Formal Tourism Sectors on Farmers’ Tourism Microentrepreneurial Intentions

Leveraging the popularity of the foodie scene, signature farm tourism is emerging as one of the most promising niches for tourism microentrepreneurs. However, both psychological and structural constraints seem to be holding farmers back in their intention to start offering farm experiences or expanding their existing farm tourism portfolio. We argue that Permatourism-enabled bridging social capital affords farmers sources of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, which enhances entrepreneurial intention. To test our conceptual model, we surveyed 207 farmers in NC and used SEM to examine relationships between constructs. The analysis revealed an adequate model fit and strong significant relationships between bridging social capital and both dimensions of tourism microentrepreneurial self-efficacy. Internal self-efficacy was strongly and significantly associated with entrepreneurial intention, while external self-efficacy was non-significant. We provide meaning to these results through triangulation with qualitative data from five years of participatory action-research with farm tourism microentrepreneurs.