Sustainable ecotourism through a gender lens: the role of women's empowerment in enhancing social connectedness and life satisfaction
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Abstract
This quantitative study investigates the role of women’s empowerment in fostering community connectedness and enhancing life satisfaction in the context of ecotourism. Drawing on the S–O–R framework, data were collected from 367 local women, and hypotheses were tested using AMOS V.23. The findings reveal that four dimensions of empowerment (i.e., psychological, social, political, and economic) positively influence community connectedness, which serves as a key mediator in the relationship between empowerment and life satisfaction. Notably, social and economic empowerment also have direct effects on life satisfaction. The study offers both theoretical and practical contributions by highlighting the pivotal role of women’s empowerment in promoting sustainable ecotourism.
Tóm tắt
Nghiên cứu định lượng này xem xét vai trò của trao quyền phụ nữ trong việc thúc đẩy gắn kết cộng đồng và nâng cao sự hài lòng cuộc sống trong bối cảnh du lịch sinh thái. Trên cơ sở khung lý thuyết S–O–R, 367 phụ nữ địa phương được khảo sát và kiểm định giả thuyết bằng phần mềm AMOS V.23. Kết quả cho thấy bốn khía cạnh trao quyền (tâm lý, xã hội, chính trị, kinh tế) đều ảnh hưởng tích cực đến kết nối cộng đồng; trong đó, kết nối cộng đồng giữ vai trò trung gian quan trọng trong mối quan hệ giữa trao quyền và sự hài lòng cuộc sống. Ngoài ra, trao quyền xã hội và kinh tế còn có tác động trực tiếp đến sự hài lòng. Kết quả nghiên cứu này đóng góp cả về lý luận và thực tiễn, qua đó nhấn mạnh vai trò của trao quyền phụ nữ trong phát triển du lịch sinh thái bền vững.
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