Path creation and the role of entrepreneurial actors: The case of the Otago Central Rail Trail

Abstract

Evolutionary Economic Geography (EEG) has emerged as a theoretical framework offering insights into how tourism activities develop in different places. Much of this research has drawn upon path dependence concepts and takes a macro or regional perspective. This paper takes a different approach and uses path creation concepts to explore the emergence and evolution of a cycle tourism attraction that has become an important development path for the Central Otago region in New Zealand. Insights drawn from the case highlight the potential of path creation concepts such as distributed and embedded agency, action nets and mindful deviation to understand the decisive role that entrepreneurial actors and the organisations they belong to may play in the development of significant tourism products.