INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The need for tourism has grown in recent years in the economy. This is as a result of new opportunities for business and income generation which exist in the sector. Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries today. In 1991 the World Tourism Organisation (WTO, 2002) defined Tourism as consisting of the activities of people who travel and stay in locations outside their usual environment for no longer than one consecutive year for the purpose of leisure, businesses etc. Rural tourism consists of tourism activities in rural areas. Lane, 1993 stated that it includes farm-based tourism, educational travel, health tourism, ‘ethnic’ tourism and ecotourism. Tourism activities include holidays, business trips, visiting friends or relatives, travel for education, sport, health or religion, movement of people within or outside of their own country. The role of tourism in Entrepreneurship has gained increasing importance as it has led to the opening up of new business opportunities in the rural areas. The benefit includes the creation of rural employment, development of infrastructures, community development, social integration, etc. In general, tourism-based entrepreneurship covers all activities and businesses which are involved in the provision of tourism based services or products. The study seeks to appraise the impact of rural tourism on entrepreneurial Development; using NDTC as a case study.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Tourism activities and sites are recently targeting nature based tourism or tourism in rural areas where there are natural attractive locations suitable for leisure’s. This is as a result of increasing demand for natural locations for tourism activities. Rural tourism is strategically positioned to contribute positively to rural development. Hence its role in the development of entrepreneurial businesses. Tourism leads to the creation of new business opportunities which can be exploited for the development of new businesses. However, for entrepreneurship to florish there must the policy framework to support entrepreneurship in the rural areas to florish and grow. The problem confronting the study is to appraise the impact of rural tourism on entrepreneurial Development; using NDTC as a case study.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The Main Objective of the study to appraise the impact of rural tourism on entrepreneurial Development; using NDTC as a case study; The specific objectives include:
- To determine the concept of rural tourism.
- To appraise the relevance of entrepreneurial development.
- To investigate the impact of rural tourism on entrepreneurial Development; using NDTC as a case study.
- To determine the impact of NDTC on entrepreneurial Development.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What is the concept of rural tourism?
- What is the relevance of entrepreneurial development?
- What is the impact of rural tourism on entrepreneurial Development; using NDTC as a case study?
- What is the impact of NDTC on entrepreneurial development?
1.5 STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESES
The statement of the hypotheses for the study is stated in Null as follows:
Ho: The level of rural tourism is low.
Ho: The impact of NDTC on entrepreneurial development in rural areas is low.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The study seeks to project the significance of rural tourism on entrepreneurial Development; using NDTC as a case study.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the appraisal of the impact of rural tourism on entrepreneurial Development; using NDTC as a case study.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUIDY
The study was confronted with logistics and geographical factors.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEFINED
The process of management of all resources which ensures that economic, social and aesthetic needs are fulfilled while also ensuring the maintenance of cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems”.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DEFINED
This is the development, which meets the needs of the present without compromising the need of future generations.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Rural Development is a planned change to elevate the standard of living of the people of a local community through sustained and sustainable economic, social, political, cultural and environmental programmes.
ENTREPRENEURI DEFINED
The entrepreneur is the agent who acquires the means of production at certain prices i combine and utilizes them for the production of goods and services.
