A strategic entrepreneurial model to develop females for tourism related businesses

• Main Author: Mazubane, Ewart Mphilisi
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 2009
• Subjects: Businesswomen > South Africa > Port Elizabeth; Self-employed women > South Africa > Port Elizabeth; Women-owned business enterprises > South Africa > Port Elizabeth; Entrepreneurship > Women > South Africa > Port Elizabeth; Bed and breakfast accommodations > South Africa > Port Elizabeth
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1188

Since the inception of the new dispensation, entrepreneurship has been identified as one of the key enablers of economic participation. For this reason the government has established strategic institutions and mandated them to promote entrepreneurship in the country with the aim of increasing economic participation and entrepreneurial activities. One of the key and the fastest growing industries that have been identified as needing attention with regards to increasing participation of the women entrepreneurs is the tourism industry. There is now a noticeable growth of women entrepreneurs in this industry. They are found running bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) and conducting tours in urban areas as well as townships and rural areas. This is further evident if one looks at the value chain in the tourism sector. However, women entrepreneurs that are found in this sector are facing specific challenges that hinder their progress towards achieving sustainable businesses, especially those running or intending to run B&B businesses. Some of these challenges are sector related and some are just inherent to pursuing an entrepreneurial journey. The participation of women in the mainstream of entrepreneurship presents unique challenges as well. Women were never allowed to participate fully in the entrepreneurial activities. The latter still contributes to the challenges faced by women in their journey towards developing and operating sustainable businesses irrespective of the industry in which they operate in. Based on the above discussion, the main problem statement of this study is: To develop a strategic entrepreneurial model to enable female entrepreneurs to operate sustainable B&B businesses in the tourism industry.