Entrepreneurial Intentions of Tourism and Hospitality Graduates: An Application of the Entrepreneurial Event Model

Authors

  • Ricky Yao Nutsugbodo Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
  • Daniella Delali Sedegah Department of Sustainable Development and Policy, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana
  • Gifty Adobea Duodu Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Accra Technical University
  • Peace Ankor Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani, Ghana
  • Valerie Efua Kwansima Bempong Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Accra Technical University
  • Sampson Wireko-Gyebi Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
  • Anna Arthur-Amissah Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
  • Joana Mills Quarshie Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
  • Bernadette Ekua Bedua Afful Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), Eberswalde, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47963/ajhtm.v5i1.1427

Keywords:

perceived feasibility, perceived desirability, propensity to act, innovativeness, self-efficacy, entrepreneurial intentions

Abstract

Ghana’s unemployment rate now stands at 14.7%, and entrepreneurship is seen as a solution to the growing graduate unemployment problem. This study therefore examines the entrepreneurial intentions of tourism and hospitality (T&H) graduates in Ghana, using data from 941 graduates. Quantitative methodology was employed for this study, and the data collection was done using snowball sampling. Using questionnaires, the data were collected between February and April 2023 from T&H graduates. The partial least-squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test seven hypotheses. The findings show that propensity to act, innovativeness, self-efficacy, and opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influence graduates’ entrepreneurial intentions. However, they do not see entrepreneurship as a feasible career option. To increase the entrepreneurship intentions of T&H graduates, the study recommends, among others, that universities should teach soft skills like opportunity recognition, business development, and problem-solving through mentorship seminars and pitching activities. Also, graduates should be encouraged to form partnerships to access funding from government initiatives like YouStart and National Entrepreneurship and Innovation programmes.

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Author Biographies

Ricky Yao Nutsugbodo, Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

Ricky Yao Nutsugbodo (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani Ghana. His research focuses on hospitality and tourism education, and women participation in ecotourism destinations, and tourism transportation and waste management in tourism sites.

Daniella Delali Sedegah, Department of Sustainable Development and Policy, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana

Daniella Delali Sedegah (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Sustainable Development and Policy, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana.

Gifty Adobea Duodu, Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Accra Technical University

Gifty Adobea Duodu, is a Lecturer at the Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Accra Technical University. She holds an MPhil in Tourism Management. Her research interest lies in the domain of tourism and hospitality education, entrepreneurship, guest experience and human resource issues in tourism and hospitality.

Peace Ankor, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani, Ghana

Peace Ankor, holds an MPhil in Hospitality Management. Currently, she is a Lecturer at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani, Ghana. She focuses her research on technology and innovations in tourism and hospitality, guest experience optimization, and food production operations.

Valerie Efua Kwansima Bempong, Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Accra Technical University

Valerie Efua Kwansima Bempong, is a Lecturer at the Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Accra Technical University. She holds an MPhil in Hospitality Management and specializes in gender issues and organizational behaviour, and entrepreneurship among students.

Sampson Wireko-Gyebi, Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

Sampson Wireko-Gyebi (PhD) also Lecturer in the Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality at the UENR. His research focuses on tourism and events management, customer service delivery and tourism and hospitality student internships.

Anna Arthur-Amissah, Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

Anna Arthur-Amissah, also an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality at the UENR focuses her research on tourism and hospitality entrepreneurship and customer service delivery of frontline hospitality staff.

Joana Mills Quarshie, Department of Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

Joana Mills Quarshie, is a PhD candidate at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, University of Cape Coast. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Lecturer at the Ecotourism, Recreation and Hospitality Department, UENR. Her research focuses on risk and revenue management in hotels.

Bernadette Ekua Bedua Afful, Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), Eberswalde, Germany

Bernadette Ekua Bedua Afful, holds an MPhil in Environmental Planning and Development from the UENR and a post-graduate student, Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), Eberswalde, Germany. Her research focuses on waste management, WASH practices in national parks and biosphere reserves management.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Nutsugbodo, R. Y., Sedegah, D. D. ., Duodu, G. A. ., Ankor, P. ., Bempong, V. E. K. ., Wireko-Gyebi, S. ., Arthur-Amissah, A. ., Mills Quarshie, J. ., & Afful, B. E. B. . (2025). Entrepreneurial Intentions of Tourism and Hospitality Graduates: An Application of the Entrepreneurial Event Model. African Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 5(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.47963/ajhtm.v5i1.1427

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): African Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Section

Articles