Barriers and enablers: Review research on women entrepreneurship and its impact on sustainable tourism development

Objective: People often glorify the tourism industry as a gateway for entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women. However, its structural inequalities remain largely unaddressed. While women play a significant role in tourism entrepreneurship, systemic barriers constrain their participation, including limited access to capital, restrictive social norms, and gendered labour segmentation. Existing research primarily frames empowerment in financial terms, neglecting broader socio-cultural and structural constraints. Feminist critiques of tourism entrepreneurship remain marginal, creating gaps in academic inquiry, and policy interventions. Research Design & Methods: We conducted an integrative literature review, systematically examining research on gender, tourism, and entrepreneurship through a dual analytic approach incorporating inductive and deductive coding (Donthu et al., 2021). Using the PRISMA framework, we synthesised high-impact literature to identify thematic patterns, research gaps, and structural constraints affecting women entrepreneurs in tourism. Findings: Findings reveal persistent gender disparities, particularly in financial accessibility, decision-making power, and policy design. The thematic analysis highlights key dimensions such as gender inclusivity, sustainable tourism, and feminist entrepreneurship, advocating for an intersectional approach that incorporates gender-sensitive frameworks into tourism research (Cobo et al., 2015). Implications & Recommendations: Policy recommendations emerging from this study include targeted funding mechanisms, comprehensive training and mentorship programs, and regulatory reforms designed to support women-led enterprises in sustainable tourism. By integrating feminist perspectives into tourism entrepreneurship discourse, this research advances theoretical understanding while offering actionable recommendations for policymakers. Addressing gendered barriers in tourism entrepreneurship is critical for achieving sustainable development goals and fostering inclusive economic growth. Contribution & Value Added: This study’s originality lies in its integrative application of feminist perspectives to critically analyse gendered barriers in tourism entrepreneurship. By employing a dual analytic approach and emphasising intersectional insights, it offers a nuanced understanding of structural inequalities and actionable policy recommendations for sustainable and inclusive tourism development.