Embeddedness and migrant tourism entrepreneurs: A Polanyian perspective
本文运用波兰尼的嵌入性理论，研究移民旅游企业家如何在目的地协调社会关系与经济活动，发现他们需与当地人及政府建立经济联系、与本地群体保持距离、并与其他移民和游客发展嵌入性纽带。
Tourism embodies flows of tourists, capital and information, as well as migration, including migrants who operate businesses. How do migrant entrepreneurs negotiate social ties and economic activities in their destinations? To answer this question, the paper draws on Polanyi’s work on embeddedness to explore migrant tourism entrepreneurs (MTEs) and their modes of integration in the practice of social and economic life. We argue that MTEs are situated in a complex matrix in which they must build economic connections with locals and government officials, yet maintain a respectful distance with local groups, and develop embedded ties with other fellow migrants and tourists. Embeddedness, juxtaposed with distance, indicates that in tourist destinations, mixed patterns of economic and social relations significantly influence MTEs’ social and economic life. A Polanyian perspective on embeddedness can provide useful theoretical tenets to understand entrepreneurial activities in a mobile world.