• Hummel, Brittany Ann
  Graduate School, University of Maine
  

This thesis presents the findings of a qualitative study of Forest-based Entrepreneurial Tourism  Enterprises (FBETEs) in and around the Northern Forest Region, which includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with FBETE owners in the summer of 2007. FBETEs are a specific type of micro-tourism enterprise or family-owned business in the nature-based tourism arena. The purpose of research was to gain a foundational understanding of these enterprises in order enlighten researchers, policy-makers, extension agents, forestry professionals, tourism planners, and potential FBETE owners.

Specific aims of research were to assess the characteristics, motivations and goals of owners, to determine risks and challenges encountered in the business, to ascertain benefits obtained from the business, and to elucidate owner's views of success.