Challenges and opportunities in tourism of nepal

Like any other sector, tourism is mainly dominated by men in decision making and controlling resources. Although many women have actively contributed to the family with financial support, they still lack access to decision making process. The top positions in the tourism industry are mainly occupied by men, especially in travel agencies, mountaineering, trekking, rafting companies, airlines, accommodations and communication services, with better remuneration and involving more than frequent travel outside the village. Women are often found in the lower positions. They are often neglected stakeholders of tourism development because of the different gender obstacles that exist for a visible participation in tourism (Sherpa 2012). Inequality in wage, harassment, insults, males’ dominating tendency and sexual abuse are some of the major gender- related problems frequently seen in this business.

They  study  of  KC  (2013) highlights  women’s choices  in  picking  roles and challenges encountered on such roles in few villages of Annapurna Conservation area in Western Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . Her study reveals that women’s roles and outputs are determined by factors such as education, family background, physical condition to bear works, holistic work environment, language, and the ability to set one’s own criteria.

7.4.1 Socio-economic status of women

Women are made economically and socially dependent. They have very low access to the decision making process in economic matters in both within household and outside.

7.4.1.1 Dual responsibility status of working women in general

Women lack access to capital assets and family resources in their own rights. Gender bias has played a key role for women’s low involvement in income oriented outside-home affairs. Many employers of the business sector think that women cannot continue the job due to their social and biological reproductive responsibilities. Such attitude of the employers about women may be due to the discriminatory nature of the patriarchal system of the society. As women, to a greater extent, have been confined in the unproductive work of the household such as cooking, cleaning and rearing children, they are prevented from realizing their full potential and have the least exposure to the work beyond the household.

Though limited numbers of educated and trained women have got opportunities for employment and income in local tourism industry in the changing context, still majority of them are forced to act as double-career women in general. They also have to perform all the household activities alongside. Such women have to work as a bridge between the household and office (Pahari 2008). On the one hand, they have to perform all the household affairs and on the other they keep continuing their career outside home. Till now male counterparts have not developed a culture of assisting women in household works.

7.4.1.2 Inequality as the structural reality in tourism

Tourism is a socio-economic sector which is naturally embedded with the potential for various economic opportunities. However, inequality has remained the structural reality of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, ese tourism where males have commanded strong hold over and decisive roles. In the tourism industry of the country, males have a dominant and leading position.

This is also owing to the fundament structure of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, ese society which is basically patriarchal, where women have been suffering from gender exploitation, oppression and discrimination since time immemorial. Sometimes negative attitudes of the society and family members and also the patriarchy system harass women involved in tourism activity (Acharya

2012).  At present, some women have reached the higher managerial levels of hotel, lodge, restaurant, and trekking and travel agency. Yet, the majority of women involved in this sector are at the lower posts. Due to lack of mobility and exposure to tourism-related activities, women also lack confidence. Less exposure, mobility constraints, and less confidence keep the women behind in markets transactions for inputs and outputs. They have very little access to the highest level i.e. policy making, planning, and managerial level.

7.4.1.3 Unfavorable social setting, unbalanced participation and poor work environment

Poor education and superstition in the present patriarchal society are the roots for unfavorable mindset that has generally enforced women to the fragile and vulnerable state. Women are supposed to be inferior in the capacities to handle both household work and business at a time. This is one of the main reasons for the limited presence of women in the tourism sector. In the study entitled "Tourism and Employment", (Khanal

2005 as cited in Pahari 2008) reveals this state in the scenario of gender discrimination in the employment generated by tourism industry. Khanal has depicted women’s participation in the employment opportunities generated  by  five-star  hotels.  Women,  according  to  this  research, were found to be less in both the number and status than their male counterparts.

In this male dominated business, women had confronted economic problem in the beginning. Once women join this industry, they are found facing other discriminatory problems which are prevailing in the business and work environment. For example, male workers are found dominating, teasing and insulting the female workers. Women are sometimes accused of having a misleading character and are also the victims of sexual abuse committed by hotel owners and tourists. Women working in dance bars and massage centers are sexually exploited. Thus, women in tourism are still facing different kinds of difficulties and hardships (based on an interview with hotel entrepreneurs in December 2012).

7.4.1.4 Prejudiced appraisal to women

Women are regarded physically weak or vulnerable who cannot contribute to tourism, especially adventure tourism. In tourism industry, women are placed on the basis of gender roles. They have been victimized by gender biasness. While males hold the highest posts and decisive roles in this industry, women are given lower positions as cleaners, waitresses and assistants. Due to various social, cultural and religious superstitions, a fully conducive environment has not yet been created for women’s participations and their roles in tourism. The lack of proper education, superstitious culture, familial obstruction, and lack of women's self- confidence are some of the major hindrances for women's respectable presence in the tourism sector.

7.4.1.5 Weak social status of women

Most of the women have joined this business owing to poor economic status of the family and problem of unemployment. It is observed elsewhere women's entry to this business has been looked down by the society. It was found that in the beginning of working in hotel, lodge and restaurants, women were insulted and their job was labeled as lower status job. Some women were also found to have been questioned upon their character. Some women kept their work in restaurant secret for preventing social and familial harassments and negative views (based on an interview with working women in lodge and restaurant in December

2012).

7.4.1.6 Lack of capacity building related interventions and empowerment

Language problem is another obstacle women have been facing. It was also found that women found it very difficult to continue this business because of the lack of trainings. Women lack access to capital assets and family resources in their own rights. So they take the activities that require low investment and that produce low returns. Due to less access to education, inappropriate and inadequate skills and training related to tourism, women have less confidence to take timely decision and lack risk- taking capacity. Thus, owing to the lack of related skill and knowledge, only a very few of women are involved in this industry.

7.4.2 Opportunities in changing context

In spite of a number of challenges, some positive signs of changes have been observed with increase in women’s knowledge, awareness, working

skills, sensitization, increasing job opportunities as described below. Chettri (2009) expresses her wonderful experience on the gradual positive changes with some increment on the number of women participations in tourism sector. The paragraphs below offer these aspects from the perspectives of entrepreneurs and workers in tourism industry.

7.4.2.1 Positive aspects of women entrepreneurs in tourism

This author’s interviews with working women in tourism business show some encouraging positive results. Some women have also adopted the alternative professions like teaching, trade and farming. The income of most women has supported their livelihoods. They are satisfied with tourism business for being independent. Majority of women are found to have spent their tourism-based income in household work and education. Some women are satisfied for being able to give technical education to their children. After getting involved in this business, they have not only enriched their skill and talent but also received honors and rewards from different national and international organizations for their activities and commitment to this business.

7.4.2.2 Positive features of working women

Tourism has remained influential in global market day by day. And women are also being attracted to it. Ghimire (2009) reveals the increasing attraction of women to tourism business in the present context in her article titled "Attraction of Women to Tourism Business". This trend shows both women and men as equally active in tourism businesses. According to a survey conducted by 3 Sister Trekking Agency in Pokhara in 2011, the participation of the number of women entrepreneurs has increased by

40 percent in comparison to the previous years’ condition. Women are observed with active participations in big hotels, casinos, travel agencies and trekking agencies.

In Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, tourism has potential to uplift women's socio-economic status and to enhance their sustainable empowerment. In his article ‘Trekking Guide from Porter Turned Hotelier’, Sharma (2009) has described how women who started their career in tourism sector as porters, turned tourist guides and finally hoteliers. Women, according to him, are attracted to this profession because of much income as well as getting opportunities of extending their social horizons.

Tourism has become the main source of income of many women working in  this  sector. Women have started to realize some slow but steady

changes taking place in the society regarding people's attitude toward female entrepreneurs and workers.

Most of the women involved in tourism have also been associated with different  organizations.  The  recent  entry  of  women  as  birds  guides in Annapurna conservation area in Kaski is the other milestone on the participations of women in tourism. There are seven trekking guides who have  entered  this  profession  through  forming  Himalayan  Daughters’ Birds club (Sharma 2013). Regardless of their struggles in the past and at present, there have been considerable changes in their living standards, conducts and life styles. A higher number of women in this business have realized economic independence.