Women empowerment in organizing homestay program case study: Homestay Sinaran Baru, Senai, Johor

Abstract

Women empowerment in organizing homestay program in Community-Based Tourism was examined in this research study. In many developing countries, promoting women’s empowerment to contribute in tourism industry is one of the strategies that implemented to reduce poverty thus improve their standard of living. In Malaysia, women have been empowered by their involvement in homestay industry. Homestay Sinaran Baru was used as a study area to view the nature of women empowerment through tourism activities. The objective of this research is to identify the characteristics, women involvement and motivation factors of women empowerment in organizing homestay Sinaran Baru program. The analysis has found most of women homestay entrepreneurs are in the age of forties to sixties and above with primary to secondary level of education with majority of these women are house wife. Self-employment in involving homestay entrepreneur is especially important for women who have difficulty finding employment because of the limitations imposed by education, age, social marginality or language. These women are highly involved in certain services as homestay provider. The various combinations of these make each situation unique, to a greater or lesser extent. The role of women homestay entrepreneur that prescribe appropriate behaviors for them to involved in organizing homestay program in Community-Based Tourism were shaped from various aspects. The social benefits of homestay entrepreneur viewed by women are significantly influenced by pull and push motivation factors suggesting that these women become entrepreneurs due to community based activities through tourism ventures. Homestay accommodation ensures stable earnings for the operators as they operate it as an alternative and extra income sources with their main occupation. The fact that involvement, motivation and empowerment of these women entrepreneurs are significantly related to economic, social and environmental sustainability that shows these women homestay entrepreneurs are more likely to grow in and see the potential of tourism sector which is fast growing industry in the Malaysian economy.