BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN TEA TOURISM: A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF POLICY CONTEXT IN YAOQU TOWNSHIP, CHINA

: This study seeks to: (1) investigate the current state of women's participation in tea tourism in Yaoqu Township, Yunnan Province, China; (2) explore the impacts of local and national policies on women's participation in tea tourism; (3) identify barriers and opportunities for women in the tea tourism industry within the policy context. This is achieved by conducting an in-depth qualitative analysis of existing policy context. There are 12 important stakeholders, including local women in the tea and tourist industries, township committees, tourism officials, tea plantation owners, and tourists were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Preliminary discoveries indicate that despite the existence of policies aimed at promoting the growth of tourism and empowering women, their successful execution continues to pose a formidable obstacle. Gaps emerge between policy and practice, largely due to lack of awareness, inadequate training, and gendered socio-cultural norms. These gaps inadvertently lead to missed opportunities for women in tea tourism. The study underscores the need for context-specific, gender-responsive policy interventions that promote equal opportunities, capacity building, and empowerment of women in the burgeoning tea tourism industry. This research holds value for policymakers, tourism developers, and gender advocates, providing empirical insights that may guide policy refinement and targeted interventions, driving equitable and sustainable development in regions similar to Yaoqu Township.