LAUSR

This study aimed to explore how both geographic and industry distances, as potential barriers, affect the sustainability for venture capital (VC) syndication. Specifically, we examined the influences of initial public offering (IPO) activity as a market environment factor and foreign VC as a firm character on VC syndication in the tourism and hospitality sectors, together with the consideration of moderating effects of geographic and industry distances. Using a purposefully developed dataset of VC deals made in China, involving 645 VC firms and 592 VC-backed venture companies from 1991 to 2017, the empirical analysis indicated that both IPO activity and foreign VC were positively related to VC syndication. Geographic distance was found to negatively moderate the relationship between IPO activity and VC syndication; on the contrary, industry distance was found to positively moderate the relationship between foreign VC and VC syndication. These findings revealed that distances are not necessarily barriers to sustainability for VC syndication. This study provided an integrated view on the factors and barriers influencing the sustainability of VC syndication in tourism and hospitality sectors. It advances the knowledge of VC syndication in tourism investment and sheds light on sustainable entrepreneurship in tourism and hospitality.