Copyright © 2025 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{190410,
        author = {Viral K. Kikani},
        title = {Empowering Local Communities through Vocational Tourism Skills: An Entrepreneurship Framework for Dwarka’s Heritage Economy},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {},
        volume = {12},
        number = {no},
        pages = {348-355},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190410},
        abstract = {Dwarka known for its sacred temples, coastal settlements, and rich storytelling traditions represents a heritage landscape where people’s daily lives and the region’s cultural identity are deeply connected. But even though thousands of visitors come to Dwarka for spiritual and cultural experiences, the local community often receives limited economic benefit. Many traditional knowledge holders priests, boatmen, artisans, guides, and fishermen are unable to convert their skills into sustainable livelihoods. This research paper attempts to address this gap by developing a Vocational Tourism and Entrepreneurship Framework for Dwarka. The study is based on real-life observations from Dwarkadhish temple areas, Gomti Ghat, Bet Dwarka, fishing villages, and artisan clusters. It uses simple participatory tools like community discussions, field interviews, and skill-gap surveys. This research paper suggests that if skill development, entrepreneurship support, and community participation come together, Dwarka can move from a tourist-dependent economy to a community-led heritage economy, where both culture and livelihoods grow side by side.},
        keywords = {Community Empowerment, Vocational Skills, Entrepreneurship, Heritage Tourism, Dwaraka},
        month = {},
        }