Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Tourism. College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Tourism, College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Considering the significant role of women in the tourism industry, this study sought to develop a coherent framework for empowering women in the industry. To this end, this qualitative study conducted a systematic review of Iranian academic literature, employing an inductive approach informed by the framework of Calisto and Sarker (2024). Taking the influence of cultural, economic, and political conditions into account, a comprehensive search was carried out across reputable scientific databases that index national research to obtain a complete overview of the topic within the Iranian academic context, where research on women's empowerment in tourism is a relatively new field. The findings of the study revealed a predominant geographical focus, organized into five thematic clusters. These clusters emphasize women's empowerment in rural tourism, skill development, specific tourism types like ecotourism, and their empowerment through training, conservation, and participation. The analysis also highlighted themes of entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism development. The literature pointed to various dimensions of women's empowerment, including enhancements of their social status, power, self-sufficiency, and self-esteem. The existing national academic discourse has primarily focused on the practical "how" of empowerment, highlighting the importance of employment, education, capacity building, motivation, management and planning, and policy frameworks, suggesting a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to the issue. However, despite the growth rate of women's employment within tourism, the industry's potential for full empowerment of women has not yet been realized. This gap underscores the significance of this study and the nascent state of national studies in this field.
Keywords