Small and Medium Enterprises, Tourism Entrepreneurship Research
New Zealand's tourism industry is estimated to consist of between 13,500 and 18,000 small and medium enterprises, or SMEs (TIA 2001). The Department of Tourism recognises the crucial contribution of industry operators and managers and has been active in researching both individual and groups of SMEs. Current research covers a number of topics ranging from the study of ecotourism operations, bed and breakfast businesses, Maori tourism operations, industry clusters to wine and food networks, urban heritage trails and issues of seasonality.
In 2000 the Department established an Industry Advisory Board to assist with strengthening existing relationships with the industry and ensuring such research is driven by the needs of industry. Graduate student and staff research conducted in this area have resulted in a number of publications and form the basis for course material in a variety of tourism papers offered by the Department, including the graduate level paper TOUR 416 and TOUX 416 Entrepreneurship in Tourism.