A Qualitative Research on Motivation Factors and Personality Features of Women Entrepreneurs in Tourism Sector

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this study is to define the reasons of women entrepreneurs who want to write an entrepreneurship story in developing economies. Design/methodology/approach – This study, which investigated the reasons for women entrepreneurs to exist in service businesses with relatively lower barriers to entry, was conducted under the guidance of qualitative methodology. In this study, in which the overt and hidden factors related to the motivational factors that lead women to become entrepreneurs are determined, the distinctive personality traits of women entrepreneurs are revealed with a mind map in the light of the motivation factors defined. Qualitative research methods, which allow the subject to be study in its natural environment, were preferred. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 15 women entrepreneurs representing different fields of tourism and various research designs and analyzes such as case studies, discourse analysis and the use of mind maps were applied. Findings – Motivation factors were determined in two categories as internal and external factors that motivate women entrepreneurs. Contrary to expectations, factors such as financial motivation were never explicitly mentioned by entrepreneurs, but noticed by researchers. In the context of environmental concerns of the current period, unlike previous studies, the fact that business owners prioritize sustainability and see it as an entrepreneurial motivation factor is considered as an important result nowadays where the importance of sustainability is increasing day by day, and it can be considered as a feature that perhaps distinguishes women entrepreneurs from men. In addition, in this study, which also touched on the issue of being a refugee woman entrepreneur, the data of refugee women entrepreneurs in developing economies were also included in the analysis. However, it has also revealed the necessity of examining the issue of refugee women entrepreneurs in detail in the future. Discussion – In the light of the results, it is necessary to reinforce the external factors and improve the external factors in order to create a supportive entrepreneurship ecosystem.