Empowerment of Rural Women and Ecotourism (case study: shibderaz village, Qeshm Island)

Regarding gender unequality in many communites، empoverment of women has became a important subject and receive more regards in recent years. Results of many researches show that tourism specially ecoutourism effects women empowerment in its different aspects by attract their participation in tourism activities. Based on these findings of previous researches the aim of this study is assessing the role of ecotourism development on empoverment of rural women in descriptive survey. Women of Shib-Deraz in Qeshm Island are the population of the research whom participate in environmental plan of “conservation of Eretmochelys Embricate“with emphasize of ecotourism and handicrafts. A questionnaire was designed by using a theoretical basis. Results show that development of ecotourism can effects social، psychological and economical empowerment of rural women.