This study investigates factors motivating the participation of rural residents of Lenggong Valley, Malaysia, in community-based tourism enterprises (CBTEs). We used observation and focus group discussions to gain insights into the cognitive evaluation and social capital dimensions of local residents’ participation in CBTEs. Observations were made of 32 participants during their CBTE initiation, while 15 participants contributed to focus group discussions 12-months later. The findings suggest that self-determination and perceived competence were integral to residents’ continuous involvement and commitment in the CBTE project. We also found that strong social networks, trust in external groups, mutual cooperation, and shared goals were significant motivational factors for residents to participate in the project.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the direct effect of extra-industry network (EIN) and organization–stakeholder relationships (OSR) on absorptive capacity (ACAP). In addition, this study explored indirect effects of EIN and OSR on performance through ACAP among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Oman by considering the moderating role of big data analytics (BDA) outsourcing. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilized quantitative method through survey questionnaire. The hypotheses were tested with a sample size of 202 surveys completed by SME owners. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was administered to analyze data via the SmartPLS 4.0 software. Findings: The analysis revealed that EIN and OSR had an indirect effect on performance through ACAP, while propensity to outsource BDA was found to have a positive moderating role between EIN and performance. Interestingly, propensity to outsource BDA was found to have a negative moderating influence on the relationship between ACAP and performance. Practical implications: This research is beneficial for entrepreneurs who wish to learn about the specific intangible resources significant for venture growth, to devise effective strategies to expand their EIN and OSR and to consider the significance of the correlations established in this study through ACAP. The result also assists managers in a way that the propensity to outsource BDA strengthens the positive effect of EIN on performance and weakens the positive effect of ACAP on performance. Originality/value: This research appears to be among the first empirical studies that attempt to provide insights into the importance of ACAP as the key mechanisms to transform the advantages of EIN and OSR to enhance performance by considering the moderating role of propensity to outsource BDA.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the indirect effect of big data analytics capability (BDAC) on performance through innovativeness and risk-taking among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by considering the moderating role of absorptive capacity (ACAP).Design/methodology/approach: This study utilized a quantitative method through a survey questionnaire. The hypotheses were tested with a sample size of 202 surveys completed by SME owners. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was administered to analyze data via the SmartPLS 4.0 software.Findings: The analysis revealed that BDAC had an indirect effect on performance through innovativeness and risk-taking. ACAP strengthened the relationship between risk-taking and performance and also enhanced the link between BDAC and performance. Interestingly, ACAP weakened the connection between innovativeness and performance.Practical implications: From a practical standpoint, our study offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs in the process of implementing BDAC. The mediating roles of innovativeness and risk-taking underscore their potential as drivers of SME performance. Also, it is crucial for managers to leverage lower-order capabilities (BDAC) to build higher-order organizational capabilities (innovativeness and risk-taking) and improve performance. Finally, managers are advised to utilize ACAP to identify external opportunities that contribute to performance.Originality/value: The current study leverages the resource-based view (RBV) to provide new insights into the significance of innovativeness and risk-taking as key drivers to harness the benefits of BDAC for improving the performance of SMEs. Moreover, this study presents evidence of the moderating role of ACAP in the above relationships.

Training in the agricultural sector has been set as a continuing government agenda to educate people in rural areas. This study aims to identify several determinants that play a key role in developing sustainable agropreneurs in the Bottom 40 (B40) group in Perak, Malaysia. To this end, data were collected from 200 participants in the Agropreneur Community Training Program (ACTP). A quantitative research method was used for describing and analysing the collected data. The results showed that an internal factor, which was the agropreneurs’ attitudes towards behaviour, displayed a significant positive relationship with the expansion of the farm. As for the external factors, the results showed that family support and social networking have a significant positive relationship with increased income. Moreover, the results revealed that subjective norms exhibited a significant negative relationship with increasing income. Accordingly, more representative samples are required to verify the results of the postulated relationships between the internal and external factors of becoming a sustainable agropreneur in rural areas. The agricultural sector has become a pressing global concern, with issues such as natural disasters, wars, and climate change. Thus, the results of this study provide several theoretical and practical insights for government agencies, especially in developing countries, to execute more viable training programs for agropreneurs.

Purpose: This study examined the role of family-owned restaurants in Penang as bridges between communities and tourists, analysing how consumption values – authenticity, sensory experience, hygiene, appearance and nutrition – influence satisfaction and eWOM. Using the S-O-R model, tourist satisfaction was positioned as a mediating mechanism linking local food values to behavioural outcomes such as loyalty and eWOM. Design/methodology/approach: Study data were obtained from a survey of 329 international and domestic tourists who sampled local cuisine at family-owned restaurants in Penang Island, Malaysia. The study analysed the relationships between determinants of local food consumption, tourist satisfaction, and eWOM engagement using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings: The findings indicate that while all determinants significantly enhanced tourist satisfaction, but only authenticity and sensory experience exerted a direct influence on eWOM, with the remaining factors contributing indirectly through the mediating effect of satisfaction. Practical implications: The results offer valuable insights for strategic policy making, providing a pioneering technique to develop tourist satisfaction and the sustainability of gastronomy tourism. Originality/value: This study advances gastronomy tourism research by refining the S-O-R model, establishing tourist satisfaction as a key mediator, and underscoring the influence of eWOM. The results contribute to a deeper theoretical understanding of tourist behaviour in food-related travel and provide a foundation for future research on sustainable culinary tourism. Moreover, the study highlights that despite extensive scholarship on family businesses, their role within tourism and hospitality remains underexplored.

Entrepreneurship training is an integral element that promotes entrepreneurship across a wide range of industries. In rural areas, the success of tourism destination heavily and solely depends on community involvement. Hence, community-based tourism enterprise (CBTE) appears to be a practical approach in encouraging the community to be involved in entrepreneurial activities. Nevertheless, efforts are scarce to document the training modules of CBTE program established in rural tourism. This study, hence, explored the training modules for CBTE development in the Lenggong Valley and measured the effectiveness of the training. The program has been initiated by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) with cooperation from Northern Corridor Economic Implementation (NCIA). The CBTE training was successfully conducted, wherein the community had placed high ranking for most of the items. The identified main challenge refers to sustenance of the business entity. This article contributes to CBTE literature by sharing a new perspective pertaining to training modules within the context of rural tourism. The study outcomes may be utilised by other CBTE programs with some modification to suit their specific needs and requirements.