Homestay or Staying Home? A Qualitative Study on Women’s Participation in Homestay Tourism in Ban Luoc, Vietnam

Abstract

The nexus between women’s empowerment and tourism has gathered wide interest from both scholars and policy-makers. This study explores the factors and conditions shaping women’s decisions in regards to homestay tourism, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the social structures that shape women’s opportunities to participate in Ban Luoc, Vietnam. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews and participatory observation, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study found that women’s decisions to participate in homestay tourism were shaped by a combination of internal factors, such as self-confidence, skills, and knowledge, and external conditions such as financial support, access to training, and family dynamics. Furthermore, gendered division of labor and marriage played a significant role shaping women’s opportunities to participate in homestay tourism. This study highlights how research on women’s empowerment must address both individual abilities as well as the broader societal context as findings reveal women’s opportunities and their ability to choose were often shaped by intersecting factors and conditions.