Many rural economies have historical, cultural, natural, and recreational assets that can be used in developing their local tourism industry as part of an economic development strategy. In fact, the relationship between entrepreneurship and tourism can be an important indicator of a healthy rural economy. A clear understanding of the influence that a community's entrepreneurial "ecosystem" has on tourism development has not yet been established. Identifying factors that shape a favorable tourism entrepreneurship ecosystem will make it easier to understand why some rural communities thrive while others struggle. It will also assist in identifying best practices and will aid in creating models for the purpose of planning entrepreneurial activity, facilitating a culture of innovations and creativity in communities that adopt them.