Trends of women participations in tourism

Women's participations  in  tourism of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, began as early as 1920s and 1930s in mountain tourism as porters, cooks, trekking guides and group leaders (Upadhayaya and Upreti 2008). Since then, women have shown great hospitality to tourists through cooking, conducting cultural performances and producing handicrafts. While males benefited from the direct employment, women were mostly associated with indirect employments that included farming, handicraft producing and selling, cooking etc. They felt largely hesitant to come openly to this business because it could then be labeled as an unnatural and inappropriate job for them. Due to the social and cultural norms and taboos, the number of  participation  of  women  was  absolutely  low.  However,  a  number of aspiring women have started to be involved in tourism and other hospitality industries both as entrepreneurs as well as workers in the present changing context.

A report published by NATHM (2012) reveals that a total of 30,609 people had taken various academic courses and skill trainings2   during 1972 –

2011 at Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management. The number of women participations in those courses was only 4,723 (15.43%). Despite the fact that women’s participation is still very small in terms of quantity, they have reached a stage today where female trek leaders are leading solo women tourist trekkers, working as team leaders in mountain expeditions and operating hotels, lodges, restaurants, trekking and travel agencies from the top management positions.

According to a holistic survey report in Pokhara in the year 2002, only 2.1 percent women were reported to have been involved in whole tourism industry in Pokhara in which 6.5 Percent were in travel agency and 7.5 percent in hotel business (Khatiwada 2009). According to a former study conducted on hotel tourism in Pokhara in 1998, this sub-sector was on the highest position in generating employment opportunities. Altogether

3,397 persons were employed in hotel business at that time in which women were only 19 percent. Among the women participants of the same survey, 57.5 percent were involved as cleaners and kitchen assistants, whereas only 14.2 percent women were reported to have been working at reception and management sector (Khatiwada 2009). Hence, a very less number of women are shown to be involved in tourism business. Among them most workers were unskilled and were limited to lower jobs.

Shrestha (2002) had analyzed women's socio-economic condition in travel agency in tourism industry of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . His study clarifies that nowadays more women workers are educated and are drawing a handsome remuneration. Women, as the study claims, have received a favorable and encouraging support from their family and are found to be more satisfied with their professions than men are.

A survey conducted by Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, Rastra Bank has presented a comprehensive data which reveals that only 20.6 percent women are involved in tourism and other industries related to it (Acharya 2010). Pahari (2008) has made a study on the socio-economic status of women who are participatory in tourism.  This study reports that most women workers are under 10+2 level in education, married, and involved in limited familial trade. It discloses the dissatisfactions of women in tourism business due to low income, work burden and longer working hours. Women in this sector have to confront the economic and language problem besides their occasional suffering from the crimes like murder, theft and robbery. They also have to undergo problems related to gender discrimination.

Acharya (2010) conducted a study entitled ‘Women Participation in Tourism Business’ in 2010. This study, however, finds positive changes with some exciting pictures. Women in travel, tour and trekking sub- sectors in Pokhara are found satisfied with this business because they

have become economically independent. Similarly, it also mentions that there is a significant growth in their skill and capacity after joining this business. They have had significant roles in decision making process regarding the household activities. Despite the fact that the society in the past had a negative attitude toward women involved in tourism business, most of the women have now realized that there have been visible changes as regards the society's attitude to them. Among the women as employed in the tourism sector of Pokhara, most of them are local as well as the inhabitants of neighboring villages of Pokhara. There is the highest number of women engagement in tourism, who are aged from 20 to 30. In this age group, unmarried women are found attracted more than married women. While analyzing the family condition, more women from single families are employed in tourism.

The number of Hindu women working in tourism business of Pokhara is higher than those of any other religious groups. In addition, women from other ethnic and indigenous communities are also involved. In this way, women from all classes and communities of society have been benefitted from the tourism promotion of Pokhara. In other words, a situation of ethnic harmony can be observed in the tourism sector. Trekking agency sub-sector is found as the interesting refuge for the employment of those women who are divorced. Tourism has appeared as a new potential sector for employment generation in Pokhara. Greater numbers of women workers have been involved as porters in seasonal basis in trekking companies and as housekeepers and cooks at hotels and restaurants. At present, women have also joined a new tourism sector called paragliding.