Factors Affecting the Development of Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism Case Study: Villages in the Central Anar Township

Nowadays, rural tourism is considered as an important part of economic activity. This main economic activity is taken into consideration from different points of view. On the one hand, it is looked as a policy for diversifying the economy of rural communities. On the other hand, it is considered as a mean to reach mobility and national economic growth. Rural tourism can create opportunities and possibilities for rural employment and income. It develops small businesses and provides jobs. Regarding this, the main question of present study: by which means and under which circumstances, tourism, affects rural entrepreneurship development? The aim of this study is to analyze and evaluate the factors affecting the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas in central part of Anar. The research is descriptive in terms of method. Data were gathered from library research and field study, in which, a questionnaire was applied. The population of the study consists of a sample of 30 directors, 90 local authorities and rural residents, who were selected by Simple Random sampling. The SWOT model was applied in order to analyze data. The results showed that the factors related to the strength had the highest rating in the study. Also, “being located on the main roads of the country" among the strengths, "weak entrepreneurial culture among residents" and " negligence of officials" among the weaknesses, "more varied ways to make money" among opportunities and "the destruction of ancient monuments and historic buildings" and "changes in land use and landscape of the village" were among the threats were the most important sub factors in rating. According to the scores of the matrix of internal and external factors, the extracted strategy is to maintaining and protecting.