Enhancing Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism for Sustainable Development: A study on Hirapur Village of Odisha

Abstract

Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries today. With rapid tourism growth, a diversification of tourism products and destinations is taking place with increased demand for new alternative types of tourism. Rural development is increasingly associated with entrepreneurship, which is considered as a central force of economic growth and development. Tourism's role in rural development is basically an economic one and can help to sustain and improve the quality of life in rural areas. Tourism involves mostly small enterprises, so the role of tourism entrepreneurs can be important for the development of rural tourism. Of all economic sectors, tourism is perhaps the one in which the greatest degree of involvement is needed by the entrepreneurial sector in formulating sustainable strategies. Especially in rural tourism, entrepreneurship has gained an increasing importance as it is seen as a major driving force behind rural tourism. Hirapur village is located at a distance of 15 km southeast of Odisha capital Bhubaneswar in Khurda district of Odisha. Hirapur is best known worldwide for the famous 64-Yogini tantric temple. Though the smallest of nine such Yogini shrines discovered in India, this ninth century shrine has been the best preserved temple of its kind in the country for undertaking any study on tantra cult. For its proximity to the capital city apart from its historical, archaeological and cultural relevance, it received a large chunk of travellers and researchers from abroad. This paper aims to increase an understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship in rural tourism in Hirapur village and to identify the ways of enhancing entrepreneurship in tourism, which can contribute to the sustainable rural development.