Article: Assessing women's participation in ecotourism: unveiling benefits, and challenges in Corbett Tiger Reserve Journal: International Journal of Tourism Anthropology (IJTA) 2024 Vol.9 No.4 pp.332 - 352 Abstract: Ecotourism, constituting a distinct form of tourism, is strategically directed towards conservation and socio-economic development of the communities. Notably, it offers diverse employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women. Women's participation in ecotourism development projects is considered vital as it helps promote inclusive and decentralised approach to development planning. However, the multifaceted role of women in ecotourism literature has remained inadequately unexplored. This study explores the extent of women's participation, benefits, and challenges in ecotourism endeavours in the surrounding villages of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), Uttarakhand, India. The data is collected primarily from female respondents involved in ecotourism-related activities through interviews, observations, and supplementary secondary sources. The study indicates that despite encountering various obstacles, women are remarkably inclined to engage in ecotourism activities offering homestay services, selling handicrafts and food to tourists, and tour guiding. Finally, the paper has concluded with imperative suggestions to augment women's active participation in ecotourism initiatives. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Assessing women's participation in ecotourism: unveiling benefits, and challenges in Corbett Tiger Reserve

Authors: Oshi Singhania; H. Uswathul Hasana; Sampada Kumar Swain

Addresses: Department of Tourism Studies, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India ' Department of Tourism Studies, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India ' Department of Tourism Studies, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India

Abstract: Ecotourism, constituting a distinct form of tourism, is strategically directed towards conservation and socio-economic development of the communities. Notably, it offers diverse employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women. Women's participation in ecotourism development projects is considered vital as it helps promote inclusive and decentralised approach to development planning. However, the multifaceted role of women in ecotourism literature has remained inadequately unexplored. This study explores the extent of women's participation, benefits, and challenges in ecotourism endeavours in the surrounding villages of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), Uttarakhand, India. The data is collected primarily from female respondents involved in ecotourism-related activities through interviews, observations, and supplementary secondary sources. The study indicates that despite encountering various obstacles, women are remarkably inclined to engage in ecotourism activities offering homestay services, selling handicrafts and food to tourists, and tour guiding. Finally, the paper has concluded with imperative suggestions to augment women's active participation in ecotourism initiatives.

Keywords: ecotourism; women's participation; environmental conservation; Corbett Tiger Reserve; anthropology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTA.2024.143400

International Journal of Tourism Anthropology, 2024 Vol.9 No.4, pp.332 - 352

Received: 16 Oct 2023
Accepted: 02 Jul 2024
Published online: 17 Dec 2024 *

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Title: Assessing women's participation in ecotourism: unveiling benefits, and challenges in Corbett Tiger Reserve

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