The enablers of entrepreneurship in the tourism sector of Saudi Arabia: An interpretative structured modeling approach

Abstract

This study aims to model the set of enablers that promote entrepreneurship in the tourism sector of Saudi Arabia using interpretative structural modeling (ISM), a qualitative expert opinion-based method that helps describe the interrelationship among variables. A review of the literature identified seven major enablers. Drivers and dependence power from the ISM model reveal that collaboration and relaxing visa norms are the primary enablers of entrepreneurship in the tourism sectors of Saudi Arabia, followed by cutting taxes, public–private partnership, and ease of getting tourism business licenses on the second level of the ISM model. Furthermore, the ISM digraph shows that start-up in the tourism business and entrepreneurship education is highly dependent on the other enablers. To encourage entrepreneurship in the Saudi tourism sector, the government should promote and focus on primary- and secondary-level enablers. This study provides an in-depth insight into the enablers of entrepreneurship in the tourism sectors of Saudi Arabia, which can help in developing a proper policy framework.