S. Josephin Arulmozhi, M. Gurupandi, R. Pandimeenal |
Department of Commerce, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
Tamil Nadu’s economy depends heavily on pilgrimage tourism, which creates a lot of job and business opportunities, especially for women. The economic effects of pilgrimage tourism on women in rural and urban areas are examined in this study, along with the variations in opportunities, difficulties, and empowerment tactics. Rural pilgrimage sites like Rameswaram, Thiruvannamalai, and Palani offer opportunities in handicrafts, traditional food production, and cultural tourism, while metropolitan pilgrimage hubs like Madurai, Chennai, and Kanchipuram offer organized employment in hospitality, retail, and tourism services. Despite their potential, rural women confront obstacles such limited access to markets, financial limitations, and infrastructure, while metropolitan women face fierce rivalry and regulatory hurdles. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study evaluates women’s economic contributions, participation in pilgrimage tourism, and policy gaps impeding their advancement using surveys, interviews, and secondary data analysis. The results show that rural women have unrealized potential in heritage-based tourism businesses, while urban women enjoy the advantages of established business networks and digital connectivity. The gap between rural and urban economic opportunities can be closed with the use of tactics like skill development, financial inclusion, digital marketing assistance, and better tourism infrastructure. In Tamil Nadu, pilgrimage tourism has the potential to be a potent instrument for women’s economic empowerment by promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. In order to increase women’s involvement in the tourism economy, the study ends with suggestions for legislators, business stakeholders, and grassroots groups.
Keywords: Pilgrimage Tourism, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Tourism Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, Employment in Tourism
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