Women and rural tourism in the integration context – case study in Con Son, Can Tho

Abstract

Tourism is one of the most important sectors creating jobs for women. According to the Tourism Human Resource Development Program by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in 2015, the proportion of women in tourism accounted for 56% of the general labor force. In rural areas, participation in tourism organizations helps to significantly improve incomes and spiritual life of women. Through the tourist benefits, there has been a positive change in the awareness of gender equality that women are not only able to enhance income for themselves and their family but also contribute to local socio-economic development. The research team has selected Con Son (Son Island) in Can Tho Municipality for the survey because women here participate in almost all rural tourist activities. With the help of ethnographic fieldwork, participative observation and in-depth interview, the objective of the study is to assess the status and role of women in organizing, managing and implementing tourist activities. The results show that through tourism, the position of rural women, in family as well as in community, is lifted up. In parallel, tourism offers women many opportunities to manifest their capacity and to affirm their values.