From absorption to action: unraveling the entrepreneurial path in external rural tourism through bricolage and social support perception

External rural tourism entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in fortifying the local economy through the creation of employment opportunities, stimulation of consumer spending, and the generation of income. In consonance with social capital theory, this study systematically gathered data over four stages to analyze the absorptive capacities and entrepreneurial actions of 213 external rural tourism entrepreneurs in Yuanjia Village, Shaanxi Province. Key findings include: (1) The significantly and positively impact of individual absorptive capacity on entrepreneurial performance; (2) The positive influence of entrepreneurial bricolage on performance, concurrently serving as a partial mediator in the nexus between individual absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial performance; (3) The critical moderating role played by social support perception in shaping the relationship between individual absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial performance. This study augments the existing theoretical discourse surrounding external rural tourism entrepreneurs, providing valuable insights that inform strategic decision-making aimed at cultivating an environment conducive to the success of such external entrepreneurs.