Indigenous women’s approaches to tourism planning: lessons from Ecuador

Abstract

In the intersection of Indigenous tourism and gender, a pressing question arises: How can Indigenous women lead sustainability and gender equality in the tourism industry? To shed light on this issue, we conducted qualitative and case study research in the Amazonia region of Ecuador. Our study analysed the roles that Napo Runa women play in tourism development, their efforts to align tourism with their sustainability and gender equality goals, and the factors that shape these efforts. Our findings highlight the importance of focusing on the relationships that surround Indigenous women and recognizing the various forms of discrimination they face. We also found that Indigenous planning, led by Indigenous women, is a crucial tool for promoting more visible and empowered roles for Indigenous women in the tourism sector. The case study supports the argument that addressing gender inequality is a crucial first step toward sustainable business practices, especially in cases where women’s economic participation is invisible and influenced by violence and gender discrimination. This research contributes to the work of scholars and practitioners aiming to advance sustainability and justice in the tourism industry.

Keywords:

• Gender and tourism
• indigenous women
• intersectionality
• indigenous planning
• indigenous entrepreneurship
• Indigenous tourism

Acknowledgment

Yupaychani – gracias – thanks to the organizations and community members of the Chakra Route, whose support, time, and trust were essential for the completion of this paper. We would like to thank the Tourism Ministry office in Tena for their valuable assistance. We also express gratitude to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback, which greatly improved the quality of this work. Lastly, we acknowledge the encouragement from colleagues, mentors, friends, and family that motivated us to undertake this endeavor.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 To learn more about AMUPAKIN project, please visit www.amupakinachimamas.com

2 Travel is Life has created a short documentary about Sinchi Warmi project. Available in this link https://youtu.be/hcVysZk-xi0

3 To learn more about REDTURCON please visit www.redturcon.com.

4 Women and girls with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse. A small 2004 survey in Orissa, India, found that virtually all of the women and girls with disabilities were beaten at home, 25 percent of women with intellectual disabilities had been raped and 6 per cent of women with disabilities had been forcibly sterilized (WHO, 2021).