Gendered Perspectives in Ecotourism: Analysing the Constraints Faced by Local Women in Corbett Tiger Reserve

Abstract

Ecotourism stands out as a potential avenue for enhancing the economic status of women involved in it. Women’s active involvement in ecotourism is highlighted as a significant strategy for economic development, poverty reduction, and empowerment. Despite its potential, women encounter barriers that hinder their active participation in ecotourism, necessitating their identification and mitigation for sustainable development. With this background, this study aims to examine the barriers that women experience in the ecotourism site in the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) region of Uttarakhand, India, using a quantitative approach. Results of the study analysed by using mean and factor analysis revealed that barriers to women’s participation were more structural and operational than cultural and personal barriers. Key areas that have posed challenges to women’s participation comprised a lack of information, coordination among stakeholders, elite domination, and unwillingness by ecotourism planners to include local women in decision-making. The findings further revealed that age, marital status, length of residence, and annual income through ecotourism influenced the barriers women encountered when participating in ecotourism. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights for government officials, ecotourism planners, and community stakeholders to be more sensitive towards women’s participation.

Keywords: Ecotourism, Women Participation, Barriers, Sustainability, Corbett Tiger Reserve

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