Rural Tourism Entrepreneurs Research Articles

The Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve (ABR): entrepreneurship in ecotourism, opportunities and constraints

The objective of this paper is to determine the role that the dynamics of tourism entrepreneurship play in the sustainable development of the ABR territories, mainly in rural areas, by identifying the entrepreneurial process and the implications of the specificities of rural tourism entrepreneurship; that is, the criteria to be operationalized in the context of ecotourism activities to promote eco-responsible development. After having evoked the theoretical and conceptual aspects relating to entrepreneurship, ecotourism and the ABR space using a literature review, an investigative study, an exploratory qualitative study, was then carried out among tourism stakeholders spread over the Souss Massa region, in the Arganier territory. At the end of our survey, we found that the ecotourism sector remains underdeveloped in the ABR, and only marginally contributes to the local economy. The tourism activity undertaken shows insufficient dynamism to propel the development of tourism and sustainable economic development of the ABR. Entrepreneurship in ecotourism would offer economic opportunities while preserving the natural environment and the cultural richness of the ABR.

Geomedia Perspectives for Multiple Futures in Tourism Development

This article draws on five participatory action research studies to address how geomedia theory can induce multiple imaginations of the future. Critical future research advocates that societies need to collectively create visions of multiple futures, transcending the single rational (neoliberal) future path. The studies were conducted in collaboration with rural communities and local tourism entrepreneurs who were exploring geomedia technologies to develop destinations. The tourism sector uses geomedia technologies but often depends on commercial platforms that seek upscaling and generalisation, becoming detached from local practices and place-specific settings. By applying critical geomedia studies, we problematised the relationship between people, place, and technology in the present, the past, and the future. Geomedia studies provided a critical lens that provoked future visions beyond preformatted technological infrastructures and media practices. The participants were asked to engage with complex issues such as access, restrictions, equality, authority, and legitimacy in relation to the specific place, bringing forth a multitude of local assets and narratives envisioning alternative geomedia technologies. As a result of this process, participants paid greater attention to local assets, gained a more critical approach towards technology, and dared to use digital solutions in a more visionary manner. We, therefore, argue that researchers need to engage with society to bypass hegemonic geomedia representations. By illustrating how geomedia theory can be utilised within community development, we provide a framework for how collaborative research can more explicitly engage with local actors’ thoughts and imaginings of possible futures.

Equal Opportunities in Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship: Challenges in Malaysia

Summary Malaysia’s rural demography is multi-racial, with a blend of indigenous sub-groups. To advance the socio-economic status of rural communities, the government introduced various incentives and protectionist policies, including targeted measures in tourism development. As rural Malaysia is predominantly home to the Malays, the indigenous Orang Asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, these policies are consistent with the government’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard these groups’ welfare. Notwithstanding the equal opportunity premise of the tourism policies, the government’s initiatives to advance rural tourism entrepreneurship arguably benefit some groups more than others. In West Malaysia, this is due to the indigenous Orang Asli’s lack of entrepreneurial readiness, which means that they are less able to capitalize on these opportunities. Consequently, the Malay entrepreneurs reap the benefits of protectionist policies and government aid, while the Orang Asli lag behind in tourism participation. This is arguably the outcome of a broad-brush approach in capacity building, with limited differentiation between the rural communities. Information © The Author 2024

Rural Tourism in Mountain Rural Comunities-Possible Direction/Strategies: Case Study Mountain Area from Bihor County

Rural mountain areas and their local communities have been subject to research interest over time due to their large amount of available resources, but also their problems. The strategy for some of the rural mountain communities to simultaneously preserve and capitalize on the local resources sustainably is to combine traditional activities with those related to hospitality and recreation in the form of rural tourism activity. In this context, we have used a case study to examine development in a rural mountain community through tourism activities; the study site is the rural mountain area of Bihor County in the Apuseni Mountains, which has outstanding, but untapped, potential for development. In this paper, we address the centralization of representative resources on each component community of the chosen area, concrete information related to the current stage of the development and performance of the activity directly from those involved in the coordination of the activity (rural tourism entrepreneurs) using a specific questionnaire, and proposals for possible directions/strategies to ensure future development of this communities through rural tourism activities.

From absorption to action: unraveling the entrepreneurial path in external rural tourism through bricolage and social support perception

ABSTRACT External rural tourism entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in fortifying the local economy through the creation of employment opportunities, stimulation of consumer spending, and the generation of income. In consonance with social capital theory, this study systematically gathered data over four stages to analyze the absorptive capacities and entrepreneurial actions of 213 external rural tourism entrepreneurs in Yuanjia Village, Shaanxi Province. Key findings include: (1) The significantly and positively impact of individual absorptive capacity on entrepreneurial performance; (2) The positive influence of entrepreneurial bricolage on performance, concurrently serving as a partial mediator in the nexus between individual absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial performance; (3) The critical moderating role played by social support perception in shaping the relationship between individual absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial performance. This study augments the existing theoretical discourse surrounding external rural tourism entrepreneurs, providing valuable insights that inform strategic decision-making aimed at cultivating an environment conducive to the success of such external entrepreneurs.

Exploring the mediating role of attitude in the investigation of rural tourism entrepreneurial intention among tourism students

ABSTRACT Rural tourism entrepreneurship plays a significant role in the economic development of many regions. To contribute to our understanding of this field, this study explores the relationship between tourism education and entrepreneurial intention among Indian university students majoring in tourism or taking tourism courses, with a specific focus on the mediating effect of attitude towards rural tourism entrepreneurship. Using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, data were collected from 200 participants to examine the hypothesized relationships. The results reveal a positive direct effect of tourism education on rural tourism entrepreneurial intention and further demonstrate that this relationship is mediated by a favourable attitude towards rural tourism entrepreneurship. These findings highlight the importance of attitude as a mechanism through which tourism education influences entrepreneurial intention in the rural tourism sector.

Perspectives of rural tourism entrepreneurs in Italy, Spain, and Türkiye: A focus group study

This qualitative study investigates the essential attributes required for successful rural tourism entrepreneurship. A series of focus group interviews with rural tourism professionals in Italy, Spain, and Türkiye was employed. The data collected identified five central themes: the attractive aspects of rural tourism entrepreneurship, the necessary competencies for a rural tourism entrepreneur, the training/support needed, barriers encountered, and the utilization of rural elements in tourism. The study finds that rural tourism provides numerous benefits, including economic and social growth, cultural exchange, and a close connection with nature. However, to harness these benefits, entrepreneurs need diverse skills, including knowledge of economics, tourism, legislation, and marketing. Additionally, they require specific training and support to navigate potential barriers like administrative procedures and high financial costs. The study's findings provide valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the field. Despite its focus on three countries, it allows further research to incorporate a wider range of perspectives and geographical contexts.

Entrepreneurship Education with Purpose: Active Ageing for 50+ Entrepreneurs and Sustainable Development for Rural Areas

As older people have accumulated more developed networks, stronger financial positions and a greater ability to leverage resources and create more credible businesses, they are better placed to start new and more successful businesses than the younger generation. This paper presents the research that has been conducted for the ENTRUST project, which aims at designing an entrepreneurship training programme for people aged 50+ who are interested in creating new businesses to foster the sustainable development of rural areas and to provide services to tourists or other businesses that support tourism in rural areas. The results of the surveys for potential 50+ entrepreneurs (72 respondents) and experts in rural development and tourism organizations (100 respondents) show that there are perceived business opportunities in rural areas for experienced 50+ professionals. There is also a high demand for training targeted at rural tourism entrepreneurs. The interviews of experienced 50+ entrepreneurs (8) who work in cooperation with the rural community show that 50+ entrepreneurs find their work meaningful and that they want to continue working “as long as their health allows”. They greatly value the opportunity to develop the rural area and to be involved in preserving its historical and cultural heritage.

Can We Talk about Smart Tourist Villages in Mărginimea Sibiului, Romania?

The aim of this paper is to evaluate some villages in the mountain area of Sibiu County, Romania, as “smart” tourist villages. The research was carried out in two stages: Stage 1 was collection of information on (a) food products registered in different national and international quality schemes and (b) the number of tourist structures by type, comfort category, and accommodation capacity. Stage 2 was a case study conducted among 32 rural tourism entrepreneurs from 3 villages in Mărginimea Sibiului, using a questionnaire with 22 items on the criteria for evaluation of “smart” villages. The answers were systematized, statistically processed, and interpreted. The main results are as follows: (a) Concerning products, producers, and gastronomic points (PGL) registered, there are 9 products in the quality scheme “mountain product”, 10 producers on the platform “Gusturisibiene”, 1 producer of “telemea de Sibiu”, a registered product with protected geographical indication, and 2 PGL. (b) The number of officially registered tourist structures is 93, of which 72% are agritourism guesthouses. (c) The results for the evaluation of villages as “smart” are that 78.2% of locals use the internet, 74% own at least one smart device, 60.16% of energy used is renewable. There are low values of water and air pollution; there are local job and business opportunities (93.75%); future local development activities will target agriculture with all its sectors and agritourism; public administrations have implemented 7 types of activities to increase the attractiveness of localities; and quality of life, services, and social life aspects are perceived to be at high standards.

Rural tourism entrepreneurship success factors for sustainable tourism village: Evidence from Indonesia

This study aims to examine the success factors and build the framework of rural tourism entrepreneurship for a sustainable tourism village. This is an important research topic, as 44.28% population in the world live in rural areas; specifically 44.02% population in Indonesia resides in a rural area which indicates how important rural areas are for future development. This study used a purposive sampling technique to determine the priority issues of the sustainability of the tourism village. The data was gathered from semi-structured interviews with actors’ influential in the success of tourism villages. This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and a case study design. This study uses content analysis in describing the findings from the collected data to better understand the case study. It focuses on a case of six tourism villages in Indonesia that have received awards as sustainable tourism villages, as it might be adopted by the other tourism villages. The results revealed ten factors for creating successful sustainable tourism village through rural tourism entrepreneurship. Those factors are income management, business unit development, economic growth, mutual cooperation, collaboration, innovation, creativity, environmental awareness, resource management, and visitor management. These 10 factors are further grouped into three dimensions (economic, social, and environmental sustainability). The study makes new framework of rural tourism entrepreneurship and useful for the strategy and decision-making process.

Tourism entrepreneurship in rural destinations: measuring the effects of capital configurations using the fsQCA approach

Emprendimiento turístico en los destinos rurales: Midiendo los efectos de las configuraciones de capital utilizando el enfoque fsQCAResumenDiseño/metodología/enfoqueLos datos de esta investigación se recopilaron sobre una muestra de 140 propietarios de empresas rurales en China y se analizaron mediante un análisis comparativo cualitativo de conjuntos borrosos (fsQCA).PropósitoEl objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el efecto de la configuración causal de los determinantes del emprendimiento turístico en destinos de turismo rural basados en el marco de capital.ConclusionesTodos los factores de capital investigados son relevantes para el emprendimiento turístico, aunque solo facilitaron el emprendimiento turístico cuando se han combinado. Además, se observó que cuatro configuraciones de capital promueven el emprendimiento turístico en destinos rurales, destacando los múltiples caminos hacia el emprendimiento turístico rural. Los capitales humano y físico de los emprendedores son clave para el emprendimiento turístico.Implicaciones prácticasEs relevante que los empresarios y gestores se den cuenta de la existencia de múltiples estrategias a la hora de promover el emprendimiento turístico en los destinos rurales. Las cuatro configuraciones de capital reveladas aquí ofrecen pautas para evaluar el potencial y la posibilidad del emprendimiento en turismo rural. Los administradores y gobiernos locales deben priorizar los capitales humanos y físicos cuando el capital de riesgo y los recursos son limitados.Originalidad/valorPrimero, los hallazgos han profundizado en la comprensión de los factores que influyen en el espíritu empresarial turístico que emplea el marco de capital. En segundo lugar, se revela que las configuraciones de capital determinan el emprendimiento turístico y que la existencia y las interacciones de las diversas formas de capital afectan el emprendimiento rural. En tercer lugar, este estudio revela que el éxito del emprendimiento turístico depende de la capacidad del empresario para combinar las diversas formas de capital y recursos.

Does the digital economy promote "innovation and entrepreneurship" in rural tourism in China?

This paper focuses on the impact of the “Digital Economy” on rural entrepreneurship. Unlike previous literature, the perspective of this paper focuses on a specific industry—tourism—and identifies a new mediating mechanism by which the “Digital Economy” affects rural tourism entrepreneurship—the promotion of innovation. The paper further clarifies the fact that the “Rural Digital Economy Index,” which is a dimension of the Digital Economy Indicator System, is the key to the mechanism of action. Theoretically, first, through a literature review, this paper provides a rationale for the “Digital Economy” to promote innovation behavior by reducing the cost of innovation. Second, using a product matching model, this paper argues that a rural tourism market characterized by innovation can stimulate more entrepreneurship. Empirically, using a sample of 150 counties in the Yangtze River Delta region of China, this paper argues that the higher the digitalization index of a county’s rural economy, the more national model villages and towns this county has (all of which include product innovation in the selection criteria) and more tourism entrepreneurial activities. Econometric methods such as endogeneity, spatial econometric regression, and sensitivity analysis proved the findings robust. Our recommendation is that the Chinese government could focus on improving the innovation environment for rural residents in the future, so that entrepreneurial activities will be spontaneously stimulated by market mechanisms.

Artificial Intelligence Network Embedding, Entrepreneurial Intention, and Behavior Analysis for College Students' Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship.

To promote the development of the rural economy and improve entrepreneurship education in colleges and universities, college students’ willingness and behavior toward rural tourism entrepreneurship were investigated in this study. First of all, based on the previous research results, the influencing factor model was determined for college students’ entrepreneurial intention. Second, a questionnaire survey was made to collect data from a university in Xi’an City. Finally, the artificial neural network (ANN), improved by a genetic algorithm (GA) based on an artificial intelligence network, was used to study the relationship between college students’ entrepreneurial intention and behavior, and the simulation was carried out on MATLAB2013b software. The results show that the average evaluation accuracy is 81.13% for 60 groups of data using the unmodified back propagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm, while the average evaluation accuracy is 92.17% for the BPNN algorithm improved and optimized by GA, with an ascent of 11.04%. Therefore, the BPNN algorithm improved and optimized by GA is better than the unmodified BPNN algorithm; It is also feasible and effective in the analysis of influencing factors of college students’ entrepreneurial intention and behavior. The research provides a basis for colleges and universities to carry out entrepreneurship education on a large scale and to cultivate their innovative talents.

Motivations of Rural Tourism Entrepreneurs: Conceptual Theory Building Using the Qualitative Study Results

Abstract
 Object: This paper aims to investigate the entrepreneurial motivations of various categories of rural tourism entrepreneurs, particularly highlighting the differences between Opportunity, Necessity, and Irrational entrepreneurs with a deep focus on commercial, social, irrational, as well as mixed intrinsic motives in start-up initiatives.
 Methods: This research adopts the qualitative research method. Twenty-five rural tourism entrepreneurs in Central Asia were studied in-depth, using a purposive sampling strategy.
 Results: The research revealed a specific category of rural tourism entrepreneurs defined as Irrational Entrepreneurs, which do not connect their initiative and activities with an opportunity to gain philanthropic benefits. Irrational Entrepreneurs are characterized by an extremely social dominance degree in their business motivations.
 Conclusions: For contributing to the conceptual theory building, the “Dominant Motivation Degrees” model is suggested. The model indicates the impact of social and commercial components of intrinsic motives on an integral nature of entrepreneurial motivations.

The Mediating Role of the Social Identity on Agritourism Business

There is a significant relationship between social capital, functional competences and social identity which forms the environment of rural tourism. This complexity was studied using the PLS-SEM approach, applying the initial corrected bias method based on direct questionnaire surveys among rural tourism entrepreneurs in Tunisia. The results of the bias-corrected primer model revealed that the entrepreneur’s social identity mediated the link between social capital and functional competencies. Managerially, social capital supports rural lodge entrepreneurs in the process of defining their marketing strategy and optimizing the different components of their marketing mix, focusing on the differentiation of their products and services. A strong link within the entrepreneur’s social capital network will encourage them to strengthen their social identity, leading to the enhancement of their different functional competencies.

Supply Chain Performance Assessment of Mountainous-Forest Rural Tourism Resorts (Case Study: Central Mazandaran, Iran)

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present paper is to identify the processes for assessing tourism supply chain performance and study the performance of the supply chain of rural tourism resorts in central Mazandaran. Performance assessment components were categorized according to the six SCOR model processes, and a decision tree was designed. The statistical population of the study consisted of academic experts, rural tourism entrepreneurs, resort owners (375), and tourists (550). Evaluation of the importance of each process in the performance of the supply chain indicates that the reliability process has the highest significance, and the agility process is less significant. Finally, the ranking of tourism resorts supply chain performance by the Promethee method shows that supply chains of Nur and Amol county tourism destinations have desirable performance, and supply chains of tourism destinations of Savadkuh and Babol have undesirable performance.

Entrepreneurship as a Mechanism to Strengthen Rural Communities

Entrepreneurship has positioned itself as one of the main goals of both public and private agencies. This topic has been linked to urban areas population, marginalizing different groups and sectors, including the inhabitants of the rural areas have been included, which, usually considered by their lower income and social welfare, due to their inability to access sources of employment and services. Then, this research parts from a theoretical review of rural entrepreneurship and subsequently, explores the results from the application of a research instrument, focused on the perception of a group of rural tourism entrepreneurs was measured about the scope of their projects, pointing out the faced barriers and the gains that have been produced in their communities.

Evaluation of Barriers to Tourism Entrepreneurship Development in Rural Areas (Case Study: Tourism Target Villages - Chaldoran County, Iran)

Purpose- Development of the tourism industry in a proper way, followed by the promotion of tourism entrepreneurship, calls for adequate knowledge and understanding of the barriers and problems in this matter. In this regard, the present study tried to evaluate the barriers to the development of tourism entrepreneurship in tourism target villages of Chaldoran County. Design/methodology/approach- The current study is descriptive-analytical in terms of nature and method, and applied according to its objectives. The statistical population in this study includes people living in villages targeted for tourism. To study this population, 212 questionnaires were arranged based on the modified Cochran's formula. Information and data were collected in 2018 using library and field studies (observation and completion of a questionnaire). After collecting information through questionnaires using simple random sampling, the data obtained after coding were analyzed by SPSS and Amos softwares applying descriptive and analytical statistical approaches. Findings- The results showed that all the studied factors were effective in the failure of tourism entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, social barriers with a correlation coefficient of 1, physical and economic barriers with a coefficient of 0.91 had the greatest impact on barriers to tourism entrepreneurship in tourism target villages. Practical implications- Rural tourism entrepreneurship, regarding the natural and cultural capacities in the villages, can play an important role in revitalizing the villages, creating employment and income for the people, protecting the natural, historical and cultural heritage, and finally providing integrated and sustainable rural development, because rural tourism is one of the types of tourism whose sustainable form in various economic, social and environmental dimensions, paves the way for achieving sustainable development of local communities.

A Study on the Experience of Rural Tourism Entrepreneurs’Competitiveness during the COVID-19 Outbreak: APhenomenological Study

A Study on the Experience of Rural Tourism Entrepreneurs’Competitiveness during the COVID-19 Outbreak: APhenomenological Study

Entrepreneurs in rural tourism: Do lifestyle motivations contribute to management practices that enhance sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems?

Rural territories may benefit from the entrepreneurial dynamics created by small tourism businesses, especially if associated to lifestyle motivations of respective entrepreneurs. Despite distrust amongst some researchers regarding small tourism businesses' contribution to rural economies, their potential role for enhancing rural development, should not be neglected. Given the relatively scarce empirical evidence regarding particularly the role of lifestyle entrepreneurs for the development of sustainable entrepreneurial rural ecosystems and communities, the present case-study research, conducted in a rural hinterland region in Southern Portugal (Alto Alentejo), seeks to fill this gap and reveal these entrepreneurs’ role for the regeneration of rural economies, in diverse dimensions. The study explores motivations and management practices of rural tourism entrepreneurs as well as the consequences of their actions, considering data obtained from eight small tourism accommodation units, whose owners participated in semi-structured interviews. Content analysis reveals that the entrepreneurs are motivated by different factors, with lifestyle motivation playing a central role. Challenging the findings of other studies on small businesses in tourism, business efficiency and success are evident as a constant concern, and management practices, although informal, prove to be accurate. In fact, particularly those entrepreneurs more driven by lifestyle motivations show sustainability concerns, reflected in strategies of cross-selling, investments in biological agriculture, ecologically sound management, or the manifold setting into value of local culture. Interestingly, these projects are rewarding to their owners, reveal long-term planning and tend to generate robust networks, which clearly contribute not only to a dynamic but also more sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem of tourism in rural areas.