The firm’s intangible resources which are applied to operand resources, usually understood as human knowledge, skills and competences. They are dynamic and constinuously evolving, thus at the basis of the firm’s competitive advantage.
Published in Chapter:
Operant Resources of Young Independent Travelers
Ana Cláudia Campos (Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, European University of Lisbon, Portugal & Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability, and Well-Being (CinTurs), University of Algarve, Portugal) and Sofia Almeida (Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, European University of Lisbon, Portugal & Centre for Geographical Studies, IGOT, University of Lisbon, Portugal)
Copyright: © 2020
|Pages: 27
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-3156-3.ch014
Abstract
In this chapter, the construct of operant resource is explored in the context of young independent travel. The main purposes of the study are to analyze young travelers' perceptions about independent travel and operant resources that contribute the most to its success. A qualitative design was adopted, given the explorative nature of the research. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted to a sample of young travelers, using the snowball sampling procedure. Qualitative data analysis was conducted subsequently and main findings indicate that freedom, being in control, and authenticity are predominant feelings within this sample. They also show that most valued operant resources in the context of independent travel are informational and human. Conclusions drawn contribute to a better understanding of independent travel by youths and may help tourism businesses and destinations to strategically approach this market segment.