Abstract
Introduction
Agricultural tourism is an emerging sector in the tourism industry that plays a vital role in diversifying rural economies and creating new job opportunities for villagers. The potential of Fahraj village in Yazd province makes it a prime candidate for studying the economic effects of agricultural tourism on entrepreneurship development. This research aims to explore how expanding agricultural tourism can strengthen entrepreneurship and enhance the livelihoods of rural households in Fahraj village by identifying key economic factors influencing entrepreneurship within the realm of agricultural tourism.
Materials and Methods
 This descriptive-analytical research utilized a mixed method, gathering data from library resources and expert interviews. The study population included two groups: 7 tourism management experts and entrepreneurs, and 14 tourism entrepreneurs and rural tourism business managers. Economic factors affecting entrepreneurship development were identified through expert interviews, and a model was built using the opinions of entrepreneurs and rural managers, FCMapper, and UCINET software. Reliability was ensured through coder agreement.
Results and Discussion
The study identified 15 main economic factors influencing the development of entrepreneurship in the village. Among these, three stood out due to their high importance and centrality: “increasing the motivation of innovative and entrepreneurial activities”, “Prosperity of trade and job activities in the village”, and “increasing per capita income and improving the livelihood of rural households”. The scenario analysis confirmed that these factors play a driving role in shaping the dynamics of other variables. Specifically, enhancing entrepreneurial motivation creates a foundation for innovation and initiative, while improved trade and employment opportunities strengthen local economic structures. Additionally, growth in per capita income contributes directly to the stability and resilience of rural livelihoods.
Conclusions
The findings emphasize that successful entrepreneurship development based on agricultural tourism in Fahraj village requires simultaneous attention to all three core factors. Any neglect of “increasing the motivation of innovative and entrepreneurial activities”, “Prosperity of trade and job activities in the village”, or “increasing per capita income and improving the livelihood of rural households” can disrupt the process. Their centrality in the system makes them essential levers for sustainable rural entrepreneurship, and policies must reflect their importance by integrating support across all three domains.