Participation, cultural collectivism and empowerment among women in tourism sector in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Previous studies gap informed this study focusing on relationship between participation and women empowerment through the moderating effect of collectivism and determined level of women’s participation and different annual income before and after involving in tourism activities. Also, it determined the relationship between the respondents’ demographic profiles and participation, effects of participation in decision making, implementation, and benefits on women’s economic, social, psychological empowerment. It assessed the moderating effects of collectivism on the relationship between participation and women empowerment. This study quantitative study employed a survey design and a multistage cluster sampling technique. Questionnaire is the tool of data collection, Structural Equation Modelling and paired t-test is data analysis instruments. Findings shows high level of women’s participation in decision making, implementation and benefits in the tourism industry. Education, nature of tourism industry significantly and negatively influence participation in decision making, implementation, and benefits but related positively to participation in implementation. After participation, women’s annual income increase from Tsh 282,610.00 (223.35 USD). to Tsh 579,602.00 (494.26 USD). No significant relationship between participation in decision making and psychological empowerment and between participation in implementation and psychological and social empowerment. However, notably, collectivism significantly impacts the effect of participation in decision making on economic and social empowerment. Education and participation in tourism industry facilitate a high level of women’s empowerment in Zanzibar. Recommendations are, that Zanzibar government strengthen the tourism sector through culture-friendly laws and strategies to raise wellbeing of women in tourism, inspire strong public/private partnership projects for educating and training the people on key issues and techniques towards developing Zanzibar’s economy, local tourism authorities to encourage women’s participation and empowerment towards designing constructive and contextual tourism programmes through workshops, and seminars to improve income.

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