EMPOWERINGRURALWOMEN:AKEYFACTORINSUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Empirical evidence suggests thatthe empowerment of rural women is an es-sential predictor of sustainable developmentin the tourism sector. As primary custodiansof cultural capital and local traditions, the-ir indispensable participation in commu-nity-based tourism initiatives significantlycorrelates with the improvement of economicsustainability, the preservation of culturaldiversity, and the strengthening of social co-hesion. This study investigates the causal re-lationship between the empowerment of ruralwomen and tourism development, analyzesstrategies for the amplification of their par-ticipation, and identifies inherent challenges.The central finding of the study implies thatthe empowerment of women is a key determi-nant of their inclination towards entreprene-urial activities within the domain of tourism.