Agritourism as A Pathway to Women's Empowerment: Insights From Rural Albania

Tourism literature has emphasized the potential of agritourism in empowering women in rural areas. Recently, there has been a rise in agritourism enterprises managed by women in rural regions of Albania. However, less attention has been paid to the role of agritourism in the empowerment of rural Albanian women and its impact on traditional gender roles. Assessing the role of women in entrepreneurship and societal gender perception, this article explores the potential link between agritourism development and women's empowerment in rural regions of Albania. Drawing on data collected from 2022 to 2023, through a focus group and semi-structured interviews, the findings highlight various positive outcomes. These include a reduction in poverty and unemployment among rural women, as well as enhanced social and economic empowerment. Furthermore, agritourism emerges as a catalyst for self-development and social empowerment for rural women across multiple dimensions. To capitalize on these benefits and promote gender equity in rural areas, future agritourism policies in Albania should incorporate more inclusive incentives.