Empowering Women Weavers in Tourism Villages: Decoding Their Roles as Cultural Protectors and Educational Catalysts
摘要
Weaving is one of the cultural activities that represents ancestral heritage traditions. The tradition of weaving is rich in traditional values and creative arts that have been passed down from generation to generation. Weaving is predominantly done by women. Currently, in tourism villages weaving activities are not only utilized as souvenirs, but they are also presented as artificial tourist attractions. This chapter aims to explore the important role of women weavers in supporting the development of their villages as tourism destinations, adopts a qualitative approach, and analyzes using thematic analysis to identify tourism themes where women play a central role. The implications of this chapter are as follows: (1) Empowering women weavers contributes to the sustainability of tourism villages by participating in decision-making and the protection of cultural heritage; and (2) the role of women weavers is no longer limited to serving the needs of tourist attractions but has expanded to become instructors. The findings of this study can serve as a guide for policymakers, academics, and society to engage and strengthen the role of women weavers in the development of educational tourism that supports sustainable tourism and the preservation of cultural traditions in Indonesia.