Lifestyle Oriented Small Tourism [Lost] Firms and Tourism Destination Development

Abstract

Small tourism firms in attractive tourism destinations are often generically described as 'lifestyle' oriented. This paper finds that a range of the positive and negative connotations have been ascribed to that term in the tourism literature. A discourse on what the prefix 'lifestyle' means, when attached to small tourism firms in different economic and social contexts has been developing for a decade now, reaching a point of complexity and contradiction. In order to explore this ubiquitous, yet nebulous term, the relevant literature and associated discourse is reviewed with the aim of understanding the motives, meanings, values and contexts of these lifestyle small tourism firms. Key research questions and areas for further research are then presented and a number of possible research questions arising from the relevant literature are proposed. It is concluded that there are many deficiencies in both the conceptualisation as well as the content of current research in this increasingly important area. A multi-disciplinary and systemic approach is required to address these gaps in understanding of 'lifestyle' and small tourism firms.