Examining the competitive advantage of nature-based destinations: Applying a holistic resource-based theory framework

This study examines the role of local resources in fostering a competitive advantage for nature-based tourism destinations in the Brazilian Pantanal by using our proposed holistic resource-based theory framework. Data for this study were collected through direct observations and in-dept interviews with 24 tourism and conservation stakeholders associated with a popular nature-based tourism destination in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil and several of its peer destinations. The findings reveal the essential role of innovative destination leaders in fostering stakeholder partnerships, strategic orchestration of resource portfolios, and capitalization of place-based resources to develop intimate experiences with local cultures and biomes, ultimately resulting in the destination's sustained competitive advantage. The study contributes to the fields of tourism and strategy research by offering a holistic resource-based theory framework that identifies diverse destination resources and the processes by which they can be sustainably leveraged to produce a competitive advantage for nature-based tourism destinations.