The nexus between women empowerment and ecotourism development in Sub-Saharan Africa : a case of Malawian protected areas

Ecotourism has gained increasing attention for its potential to support biodiversity conservation and promote local community development, with a growing focus on women's empowerment. While existing research has explored women's participation and empowerment within ecotourism, limited attention has been paid to their unique contributions to ecotourism development. This study argues that women’s roles should be reconceptualised, not merely as beneficiaries, but as key contributors whose empowerment shape ecotourism development outcomes. The research investigates the nexus between women’s empowerment and ecotourism development in three protected areas in Malawi: Liwonde National Park, Majete Wildlife Reserve, and Lake Malawi National Park. It integrates Social Exchange Theory (SET), Alsop et al.’s framework of empowerment outcomes, and Scheyvens and van der Watt’s empowerment framework to analyse this relationship. Using purposive and snowball sampling, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ecotourism operators, park managers, officers, directors, and conservationists; focus group discussions with community members; and supplemented by observations, document reviews, and photography. Findings reveal that women’s entrepreneurship has a positive impact on ecotourism development and demonstrates strong empowerment potential in Liwonde National Park. In contrast, Majete and Lake Malawi National Park showed higher levels of participation than empowerment. The study highlights a mutually beneficial relationship between women’s empowerment and ecotourism development, where women actively supported initiatives that empowered them, thereby enhancing the ecotourism resource base and services. Women’s empowerment was identified across six dimensions: economic, environmental, sociocultural, psychological, political, and legal. These findings highlight the significance of contextual conditions and women’s active involvement in ecotourism processes. Theoretically, the study proposes the women’s empowerment–ecotourism development nexus model, which highlights the reciprocal relationship between empowerment and ecotourism success. This model informs both policy and practice by calling for gender-transformative approaches that dismantle systemic barriers and promote inclusive development. It advocates for robust enforcement mechanisms, targeted women-specific initiatives, and culturally sensitive advocacy, alongside inclusive operational strategies, formal gender equity policies, and capacity-building programs. Strengthening collaboration among ecotourism stakeholders is crucial to ensure the meaningful inclusion of women and harness their full potential in driving sustainable ecotourism development.