The Experiences and Meaning of Empowerment for Omani Women in Tourism Entrepreneurship

This paper describes a doctoral study, which focuses on female tourism entrepreneurs within a Muslim cultural context. The paper outlines current thinking on the research and reflects critically on the key theoretical and methodological issues. The paper also presents emerging findings from the fieldwork.

There has been limited research conducted on women in tourism entrepreneurship and this has made it difficult to identify key emerging issues surrounding this area for women. There is also scant research that has looked specifically at female tourism entrepreneurs in Muslim countries. One key emerging issue that has been frequently addressed in existing studies is women empowerment through tourism entrepreneurship. However, a critical analysis of tourism entrepreneurship opportunities for women and the subsequent implications of these opportunities is needed in order to determine the potential for tourism entrepreneurship to empower women. The experiences and meaning of empowerment for female tourism entrepreneurs in Muslim countries may have distinctive characteristics due to their social status. Such empirical evidence can further develop existing knowledge regarding women empowerment through tourism entrepreneurship. Thus, the study aims to explore the nature and experiences of female tourism entrepreneurs in Muslim countries with particular regards to empowerment.

The fieldwork for this research will take place in Oman during 2013-2014. Tourism entrepreneurship is a fairly new activity in Oman and there are a small number of women whom are involved in tourism entrepreneurship activities. The participants of the study will include two groups of collective entrepreneurs and a number of solo entrepreneurs involved in tourism entrepreneurship activities.

The theoretical paradigm that guides this study is critical theory and a case study methodology will be used to design the research. Information about the women will be collected through the use of participant observations and interviews in order to develop different cases studies.