Pages: 9

This chapter introduces the importance of understanding of sustainability in tourism entrepreneurship by unpacking the gendered nature of entrepreneurial pathways and the role social policies could play in addressing extant lacunae. We accomplish this objective by examining how understanding the gendered nature of entrepreneurship can stimulate novel theoretical frameworks and impact the outcomes of tourism entrepreneurship. Our analysis begins by outlining an overarching framework for delineating the intersection of gender, entrepreneurship, and social policy, based on a critical review of existing studies. With reference to this framework, we then critique attributes of the linkages between (1) gender and entrepreneurship, (2) gender and social policy, and (3) entrepreneurship and social policy and thereby argue for a new theoretical framing at the intersection of gender, entrepreneurship, and social policy. In conclusion we provide an overview of how the book is structured.

Pages: 12

Governments must prioritize personal development and economic autonomy of citizens by implementing effective social policies. Peru has a plethora of tourism opportunities centred around Machu Picchu, including rural centres for walks, bird watching, and landscape photography. The successful and predominantly female-led rural tourism entrepreneurship programmes, supported by legal regulations, have become increasingly popular amidst the COVID-19 pandemic’s employment crisis. Universities have been putting in significant efforts in research, business incubators, and fairs to encourage women to take up entrepreneurial activities based on tourism. The text also highlights success stories of various tourism ventures led by women, which should serve as a reference for policymakers worldwide to promote greater incentive policies and the development of new ventures.

Pages: 17

This chapter delves into the legitimacy-seeking practices of women entrepreneurs. This is in response to gendered challenges experienced by Turkish women entrepreneurs in sustainable tourism sector, emphasising male dominance, financial constraints, and lack of trust towards women’s decision-making in business realm. Turkish women entrepreneurs navigate these challenges strategically by seeking legitimacy which manifest itself as either conforming to gender norms (doing gender) or challenging them (re-doing gender) within the context of a patriarchal society. The integration of feminist ethics and the role of external networks in achieving legitimacy are highlighted. In addition, the role of media (traditional media & social media) found effective for women to access funding, networking, and market in their sector. Policy recommendations include women-targeted support measures and training opportunities. The study calls for continued efforts to address gender disparities in entrepreneurship from distinctive contexts, acknowledging its limitations and proposing broader research for comprehensive insights.

Pages: 19

In Spain, hotel housekeepers have confronted precariousness through formal associations known as Las Kellys, creating collective resistance in the struggle for their rights. The purpose of this chapter is, through semi-structured deep interviews, to find out how, within the socio-political context of the existing associations of hotel housekeepers in Spain, they could improve their rights and working conditions through the hotel booking platform project they are undertaking. This chapter develops the concept of house-keepreneurship as a useful lens for investigating the entrepreneurial process and uncover the circumstances in which the operation of the platform improves the rights of hotel housekeepers. Considering the results, the high investment is required for the development and maintenance of a booking platform, plus the salary of the workers, and it seems difficult to obtain a level of sales high enough to bear the expenses. Other initiatives, such as the Seal of Quality or ethical hotel listings, seem to have better results. However, even if house-keepreneurship does not achieve the desired success, it will be a further step in the struggle of the female hotel housekeepers and a further demonstration of the (in)ability of the female collective initiatives to transform both their members and society.

Pages: 22

The chapter applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour to examine how and why women entrepreneurs apprehend government support policies in the context of rural tourism in Kazakhstan and develop an intention to participate. While policy support for entrepreneurship is diverse and extensive, specific women-related challenges and ways to integrate them into policy design and communication are of current importance. Drawing on insights from the personal stories of a sample of women entrepreneurs from rural areas, thid chapter construes women’s sense-making from motives to intention to participate alongside their attitudes, subjective and social norms, and perceived controls. It was found that rural women have entrepreneurial and leadership aspirations and express a strong interest in knowledge acquisition and sharing well beyond their immediate environment. In policy support, they seek ways to combine multiple gender and entrepreneurial roles while grounding their intention to apply for policy support in material and social circumstances they see particularly as pertinent to rural contexts. This chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications of empowering design and effective communication of rural entrepreneurial policies for tourism development.

Pages: 17

This chapter looks at the social policies that are in place to assist women entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. Women in one of the nomadic ethnic communities in Kenya, the Maasai Community, are involved in cultural tourism through the production of artefacts that are sold to tourists. From this economic activity, the women earn a living that enables them to provide for their families. For purposes of conducting the study, the STEEPLE framework was applied, and data were collected through interviews with women entrepreneurs from the Maasai Community in Kenya. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. The women entrepreneurs were enthusiastic and optimistic about their businesses; however, they did not feel supported to the extent that was necessary for them to increase their earnings and grow their businesses. Furthermore, a diverse collection of artefacts was handmade by the women and the production process was void of technology. Therefore, the profits derived from these artefacts were meagre and unsustainable.

Pages: 15

Access to external funding is often a foundational element to the success of entrepreneurial firm performance. And in consequence, barriers to funding can serve as an impediment to long-term growth and firm performance. There is, however, evidence to suggest that there are gendered dynamics that influence women entrepreneurs’ ability to obtain funding in certain contexts, particularly during the start-up phase of an enterprise. This chapter explores such gendered dynamics within the contexts of Ghana and Nigeria through semi-structured interviews with 24 women and men entrepreneurs from a range of tourism businesses of varied sizes and operational ages. We engage with the term gendered dynamics to not only refer to the gap between societal perceptions relating to gender and the power relationships that underpin but also result from these perceptions. The effects of disadvantage are felt longer term, beyond the start-up phase, as women are required to rely on personal funds through savings, leading to a slower evolution of business development than they might otherwise seek. We conclude with a discussion of how social policy might be utilised to influence legislation and, in consequence, work towards shifting such gendered dynamics.

Pages: 15

This chapter explores the intersection of ethnotourism and the indigenous philosophy of Buen Vivir (BV) as frameworks for sustainable development and cultural preservation in indigenous and ethnic communities. It emphasises how ethnotourism, by engaging visitors with local cultural heritages, supports economic development while maintaining ecological and cultural integrity. The BV philosophy, rooted in Andean indigenous traditions, advocates for a holistic approach to development that prioritises community well-being, ecological balance, and cultural continuity. Through case studies such as Asociación Dugjin in Colombia, the chapter illustrates how integrating BV principles with ethnotourism can foster socio-economic benefits, cultural resilience, and environmental stewardship. The discussion also addresses potential challenges such as cultural commodification and over-tourism, proposing best practices to mitigate these risks. Ultimately, this chapter argues for the adoption of BV-aligned ethnotourism models as viable alternatives to mainstream tourism, contributing to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes.

Pages: 16

This chapter proposes an alternative view of resilience through developing a 4G-CIMO (context-intervention-mechanism-outcome) framework for enabling resilience in women-owned tourism businesses. This chapter considers how and to what extent financial and non-financial support for women entrepreneurs, in response to crisis, empowers their businesses to attain sustainability. Through the analysis of published studies and primary data collected through semi-structured interviews with women-owned businesses, this chapter explores how women may choose to bounce forward and embrace business transformation through innovation, improvisation, and diversification, rather than bounce back to the status quo in response to changes brought on by a crisis.

Pages: 8

Despite growing research on tourism entrepreneurship, the gender but especially the social policy dimension had until very recently been largely overlooked. This is notwithstanding the recognised influence of gender in shaping entrepreneurial pathways and the role played by social policy in promoting and/or inhibiting growth. Yet, researchers have hardly investigated how social policies influence entrepreneurship uptake and the entrepreneurial journeys of the different genders, especially women. This concluding chapter not only situates the studies included in this collection but in so doing provides a reflection of the current state of tourism entrepreneurship research – which is mainly concentrated in the hands of Global North who also determine the ‘correct’ topics, the language and publication outlets. Furthermore, the importance of adopting an integrated interdisciplinary framework underpinned by social science theoretical lenses to understand the gender, entrepreneurship and social policy nexus and address inequities in the sector is underscored.