Abstract:
Scarce information exists on tourism and entrepreneurship as instruments that promote the
livelihood of the people of Kenya particularly in tourism destination areas. Further, there lacks enough evidence in available literature, to show how tourism environment affect entrepreneurship development of host community. This study therefore seeks to address this gap by answering the following three primary questions; first is there sufficient information on entrepreneurial opportunities at Maasai Mara Game Reserve, secondly, what is the level of awareness on entrepreneurial opportunities in travel and transport, catering and accommodation, leisure and recreation and curio and souvenirs. Finally, to what extent does the local community participate in Business related to tourism? The study used descriptive survey research design which is aimed at establishing relationships between variables and concepts, whether there are prior assumptions and hypotheses regarding the nature of these relationships. The target population of this study was the 300 registered SMEs in Maasai Mara National Game Reserve from which a sample size of 169 respondents was derived. Pearson correlation coefficient and Multiple Linear Regression analysis was used to analyze first the hypotheses there is no relationship between business opportunity and entrepreneurship development. The results show that there was strong positive significant relationship between entrepreneurial opportunities in tourism environment on entrepreneurship development. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.620 and it was very significant with a p- value of 0.000.It is deduced from regression analysis that 38.5 % of change in tourism development can be explained by entrepreneurial opportunities in the tourism. It is also recommended that host communities should be educated on how to identify the available business opportunities.. This study will be beneficial to the local community, county and national governments, entrepreneurship and tourism scholars worldwide.
Key Words: Business opportunities, Tourism Environment, Entrepreneurship Development, Host Community
