From Classroom to Marketplace

This study examines how factors affect Egyptian tourism and hospitality students' digital entrepreneurial intention (DEI). The research investigates the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with self-efficacy, digital literacy, and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 3 (UTAUT3) as influential factors. The aim is to identify essential factors that help form potential digital entrepreneurs in the tourism and hospitality sector. The study obtained data from Egyptian final-year undergraduate tourism and hospitality students using an online questionnaire. A total of 422 valid responses were collected and analyzed to examine the relationships between the theoretical constructs and digital entrepreneurial intention. According to the study's findings, the extended TPB factors positively influence students' intentions to engage in digital entrepreneurship (DE). Digital literacy demonstrates a significant positive effect on students' DEI. The UTAUT3 dimensions also positively influence digital entrepreneurial intentions, with the exception of facilitating conditions. These results contribute to the tourism and hospitality literature by identifying the essential factors that help form a potential digital entrepreneur. The findings provide valuable insights for understanding what drives students toward digital entrepreneurship in this specific sector. Educational institutions in tourism and hospitality can develop focused curricula, initiatives, and training to enhance students' DEI. The research offers practical implications for curriculum development and student preparation. These findings support the development of targeted educational interventions

Curriculum · Digital Literacy · Entrepreneurship · Hospitality · Hospitality industry · Hospitality management studies · Theory of planned behavior · Tourism · Cyberloafing and Workplace Behavior · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Hospitality and Tourism Education