Fatores de influência no interesse empreendedor: uma análise junto a estudantes de Turismo

This research intends to analyze the interest students attending Tourism Programmes have in entrepreneurial activities. A bibliographical research was conducted and four hypotheses were announced. Data were collected during a field study with 149 students of higher education institutions located at Fortaleza (Ceara State, Brazil). Data were analyzed using three statistical techniques: descriptive analysis, multiple regression analysis, and analysis of variance. It was found that: (1) students, in general, have an intermediary predisposition to engage in entrepreneurial activities; (2) entrepreneurial interest is influenced by the perceived entrepreneurial vocation of the area, support of friends and family, ownership of a firm (individual or family business), and the perceived mastership of entrepreneurial strategic skills. Even results have limitations due to non-probabilistic sampling, they may help to improve the actions developed to encourage entrepreneurial interest in tourism students