Heritage Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Evidence from UNESCO World Heritage Sites Inaugural Dissertation for obtaining the academic degree of Doctor rerum oeconomicarum (Dr. rer. oec.) Faculty of Management and Economics Schumpeter School of Business and Economics University of Wuppertal Submitted by Dana Denzer Master of Science Wirtschaftswissenschaft Matriculation No.: 1316191 January 8, 2020 1. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christine K. Volkmann Chair of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development & UNESCO-Chair of Entrepreneurship and Intercultural Management Schumpeter School of Business and Economics University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany 2. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Witt Chair of Technology and Innovation Management Schumpeter School of Business and Economics University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany The PhD thesis can be quoted as follows: urn:nbn:de:hbz:468-20201028-104923-2 [http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn=urn%3Anbn%3Ade%3Ahbz%3A468-20201028-104923-2] DOI: 10.25926/37wh-1w23 [https://doi.org/10.25926/37wh-1w23] For humanity Acknowledgments This dissertation was a journey. From start to finish. Gratitude cannot be expressed in words alone, but I will try to let my heart speak. First, I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Christine Volkmann, who has been supporting me and believing in me since the very first moment we have met. I have participated in her seminar entrepreneurial ecosystems and then became part of her team during my master studies. She enabled me to do research for my master thesis in England, where I also got to know Dr. Shailendra Vyakarnam, who encouraged me to do my PhD. Prof. Dr. Christine Volkmann always had an open ear and gave me the freedom I needed for my personal and scientific development. You can tell, Prof. Dr. Volkmann always got my back and I am greatly thankful for that. I would also like to thank my second supervisor Prof. Dr. Christian Rupietta for his commitment and support as well as for giving me a new perspective on my work that helped me finalise my dissertation. Many thanks also to Paul Rath for deciding to support my work and me financially and yet so much more through the ‘Dorothee Hannesschläger-Stiftungsfonds’. I am honoured to maintain the memory of Dorothee Hannesschläger who established the foundation. Special thanks also go to Giulia, whom I got to know in my last year. She was a light and source of motivation. The quality time we spent while we worked on our respective doctoral projects remains unforgotten. A big thank you to Jutta, who was by my side during all my scientific works. I would also like to thank Kazem for his support and Simon, who gave me an idea by accident. Finally, my thanks go to Roxana, Nura and Ernst. They know what for. Thank you to every single one who has inspired and accompanied me on this journey. I feel blessed. Forever grateful. I Preface to the Overarching Research Topic of the Dissertation This doctoral thesis deals with the topic of heritage entrepreneurship in research and practice addressing the overarching research question of how, why and to what extent heritage sites can and should be exploited entrepreneurially for the benefits of the heritage itself, the regions and communities. The topic is almost developed from scratch due to the scarcity of available literature. It is therefore a pioneering work consisting of five chapters: an introductory chapter, three main chapters, and a concluding chapter. The main chapters each consist of one study that narrow down the overarching research question. The studies jointly contribute to developing the overarching research topic of heritage entrepreneurship using the example of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The studies are briefly presented below. Chapter two “From Heritage to Entrepreneurship: Theorising about the Role of Heritage Entrepreneurship in and around UNESCO World Heritage Sites” contextualises entrepreneurship through synthesising heritage and entrepreneurship. The current literature body of existing forms of heritage entrepreneurship streams and topics from related disciplines influencing heritage entrepreneurship are exposed leading to new definitions and propositions. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are presented and introduced as potential breeding sites for heritage entrepreneurship. This chapter lays the foundation for the (further) development of the research topic. Chapter three “Heritage Entrepreneurship and its Stakeholders: A Conceptual Example of the Bahá’í Gardens in Israel: A Forerunner in Managing UNESCO World Heritage Sites?” presents one qualitative case study about the Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa, Israel to identify structures, strategies and stakeholders of an entrepreneurial acting UNESCO World Heritage Site. The international study in chapter four “The Present State of Heritage Entrepreneurship in 14 Countries” captures and determines the current situation, need, predictability, and relevance of heritage entrepreneurship in context of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in various countries. Recommendations for action are derived. II TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Acknowledgments ............................................................................................... I Preface to the Overarching Research Topic of the Dissertation...................... II Table of Contents ................................................................................................ III List of Acronyms ................................................................................................ VII List of Figures ................................................................................................... VIII List of Tables ....................................................................................................... IX Abstract .................................................................................................................. X 1 Introduction to the Dissertation ......................................................................... 1 1.1 General Background ................................................................................... 1 1.2 Relevance and Overall Research Aim ........................................................ 3 1.3 Research Objective ..................................................................................... 4 1.4 Thesis Structure and Methodological Approach ......................................... 6 2 From Heritage to Entrepreneurship: Theorising about the Role of Heritage Entrepreneurship in and around UNESCO World Heritage Sites ............... 9 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Method ............................................................................................................ 11 2.3 Results and Discussion ................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Overview: Body of Key Literature, Pivotal Projects/Workshops, Geographical Coverage, Methods Employed ........................................... 12 2.3.2 Overall Observations and Implications ..................................................... 14 2.3.3 Thematic Analysis ..................................................................................... 14 2.3.3.1 Findings from Literature with Direct HE References .................... 14 2.3.3.2 Findings from Literature with Indirect HE References – Six Propositions .................................................................................... 25 2.3.4 Discussion and Future Research and Practice Avenues for HE ................ 36 III TABLE OF CONTENTS 2.3.5 A New Definition for HE .......................................................................... 40 2.4 Heritage Entrepreneurship and UNESCO WHSs ...................................... 42 2.4.1 UNESCO’s Convention and Critics .......................................................... 42 2.4.2 Introducing the Process of Becoming a UNESCO WHS and Prerequisites for its Heritage Management..................................................................... 43 2.4.3 UNESCO and Tourism .............................................................................. 44 2.4.4 UNESCO as Brand for Rising Countries .................................................. 45 2.4.5 HE Field Training Organised by the UNESCO – The Pilot Study ........... 46 2.4.6 HE Solutions for Challenges of UNESCO WHSs .................................... 48 2.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 49 3 Heritage Entrepreneurship and its Stakeholders: A Conceptual Example of the Bahá’í Gardens in Israel: A Forerunner in Managing UNESCO World Heritage Sites? ...................................................................................... 51 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 51 3.2 Methodology ................................................................................................... 58 3.3 The Bahá’í Gardens – A Case Example ....................................................... 59 3.3.1 General Conditions .................................................................................... 59 3.3.1.1 The Gardens as a Religious Site ..................................................... 59 3.3.1.2 The Gardens as a Major Project of Haifa ....................................... 60 3.3.1.3 The Gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .........................