INFLUENCE OF MENTORSHIP PRACTICE ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY OWNED TOURISM BUISINESSES IN MAHE ISLAND, SEYCHELLES
INFLUENCE OF MENTORSHIP PRACTICE ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY OWNED TOURISM BUISINESSES IN MAHE ISLAND, SEYCHELLES
Evans Okemwa Achuti - PhD candidate, School of Business and Economics, Department of Business Administration, Kisii University, Kenya
Dr. Yobes Benjamin Nyaboga - School of Business and Economics, Department of Business Administration, Kisii University, Kenya
Dr. Omare Mongare - School of Business and Economics, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Kisii University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
This study examines the influence of mentorship practices on the sustainability of family owned tourism businesses on Mahe Island. Despite the Seychelles Tourism Department's aim to establish Seychelles as a sustainable tourism leader by 2033, the current research overlooks the impact of its unique socioeconomic and cultural context on the effectiveness of mentorship practices. This study employed a descriptive survey research design using a structured questionnaire guided by the sustainable family business theory (SFBT). Data were collected from a sample of 253 owners/CEOs/managers of family owned tourism businesses and analyzed using simple regression analysis. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between mentorship practice and sustainability of tourism businesses (β=0.838, p<0.05). Mentorship practices accounted for 51.3% of the sustainability variation. This study concludes that effective mentorship facilitates knowledge transfer, skill development, and succession planning, which are crucial for ensuring business continuity across generations. Implementing structured mentorship programs can enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of family owned tourism enterprises in the evolving tourism industry. This study recommends creating work environments that encourage learning, foster long-term relationships, and enhance interpersonal skills to promote professional development and organizational success, thereby boosting sustainability.
