SMALL IS (STILL) BEAUTIFUL: A SYNTHESIS OF RESEARCH ON SMALL TOURISM FIRMS

Small tourism firms are symbolic of new trajectories of tourism development. On one level they represent spatial and sectoral spread of tourism within society and economy and on another level they represent a developmental counter balance to the globalised concentrations of the multinational tourism sector. Research on small tourism firms is reflective of the sector itself in terms of its diversity and scope to the extent that specialised attention challenges opportunities for conceptual engagement. This paper responds to arguments calling for more coherent theoretical development of research by providing a synthesis of literature which conceals an implicit logic reminiscent of the subject itself.Small tourism firms are symbolic of new trajectories of tourism development. On one level they represent spatial and sectoral spread of tourism within society and economy and on another level they represent a developmental counter balance to the globalised concentrations of the multinational tourism sector. Research on small tourism firms is reflective of the sector itself in terms of its diversity and scope to the extent that specialised attention challenges opportunities for conceptual engagement. This paper responds to arguments calling for more coherent theoretical development of research by providing a synthesis of literature which conceals an implicit logic reminiscent of the subject itself