Evaluation of Retired Entrepreneurship in Tourism Sector with Thematic Biographic Narrative Analysis

Abstract

Purpose – Today, with the changing living conditions and graying socio-demographic structure, it has become necessary to study the middle-aged group from different dimensions. The concept of retirement, a significant milestone in an individual's life, can have diverse social and economic impacts. Understanding the processes of individuals who engage in tourism entrepreneurship after retirement, based on their life stories, can contribute to the development of policies, literature, and sectoral practices. In this study, the objective is to shed light on the phenomenon of retired entrepreneurship in tourism by thematically analyzing the biographical narratives of individuals who have started tourism entrepreneurship after retirement. Design/methodology/approach – Within the scope of the purpose of the research, Turkish pages providing biographical information, which were accessed through web browsing using keywords, were evaluated. Since case studies and entrepreneurial experiences are included on the relevant pages, 23 biographical narratives that were determined to present the individual's entrepreneurial story and biography were included in the research and analyzed thematically. MAXQDA program was used during the coding process. Findings – After analyzing the experiences of entrepreneurs in the study, 18 codes were identified under the themes of " motivation", " facilitating and supporting factors " and " contribution of the tourism enterprise to the individual ". The study found that social and psychological factors were the most emphasized elements in the biographical narratives. It has been noted that specific factors motivate retired individuals and intersect with the contributions of entrepreneurial activities to support active aging. Previous professions and family support significantly contribute to new ventures. It has been determined that self-awareness and recognizing personal interests contribute to the development of new entrepreneurial opportunities in the retirement period. Additionally, the activities of retired entrepreneurs have been found to support the preservation of cultural heritage and produce outputs for the benefit of society. Discussion – When the findings were evaluated, it was understood that individuals' pre-retirement interests, experiences and values are important for entrepreneurial activities after retirement. In this regard, offering enriching experiences for individuals in social life through the principle of lifelong learning can encourage new entrepreneurial activities. It may be beneficial to develop programs preparing individuals for post-retirement life and to implement social programs supporting individuals to remain socially active and healthy in the policies prepared and academic studies carried out.