Women-Led Homestays in the Kumaon Region: Empowerment, Sustainability, and Community-Based Tourism

Abstract

This research paper examines the phenomenon of women-led homestays in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India, as a sustainable tourism model contributing to rural women’s empowerment and community development. Drawing on qualitative documentary analysis and case studies from across Kumaon, the study explores how women entrepreneurs navigate traditional gender roles while leveraging hospitality skills and local cultural heritage. The research employs a feminist care ethics framework to analyse the gender-specific challenges and opportunities facing women homestay entrepreneurs. Findings reveal that women-led homestays generate significant economic benefits, enhance social agency, and contribute to cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. However, persistent barriers include the “motherhood penalty,” gender-based divisions of entrepreneurial labour, and deep-rooted social conditioning. The study contributes to feminist tourism scholarship and offers practical insights for policymakers seeking to develop inclusive, sustainable tourism initiatives in mountain communities.