چشم‌انداز نوین گردشگری رویداد و اثر آن بر توانمندسازی زنان در روستاهای استان سمنان

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Event tourism is one of the rapidly growing forms of tourism that attracts numerous travelers. Driven by cultural, historical, and traditional resources, as well as significant social and cultural values, this type of tourism makes substantial contributions at the national and regional levels. It plays a vital role in the sustainable economic and social development of communities. On the other hand, women—comprising half of the global population and serving as key drivers of a country's economic and social progress—can play an important role in improving the economic and social conditions of rural families. Therefore, empowering women across various domains becomes essential for enabling them to assume more prominent roles in society. Event tourism, in particular, can serve as an effective mechanism for strengthening, elevating, and empowering women, especially within rural communities. The issue of rural women’s empowerment, both in general and specifically within Semnan Province, is of fundamental importance. This community holds a significant share of the country’s agricultural production. Moreover, products made by rural women in the province often fall victim to the greed and profit motives of intermediaries. Additionally, research indicates that Semnan Province has a notable capacity for handicraft production, which could be harnessed through event tourism—particularly by eliminating intermediaries—to significantly impact the rural women’s economy. Such initiatives could provide valuable opportunities for growth and empowerment. Despite the presence of diverse tourism events in Semnan Province—including the Sangsar Clan Festival in Mahdishahr, Muharram ceremonies in Majan, the Zaghbor Festival in Qaleh Bāala village, and agricultural events such as the Eyvanaki Pomegranate Festival, the Shahmirzad Walnut Festival, and the Damghan Pistachio Festival—there is a conspicuous lack of comprehensive studies examining the relationship between event tourism and the empowerment of rural women. Since rural women actively contribute to national and local development—playing crucial roles in wealth, capital, and welfare creation—this gap highlights the need for further investigation. Therefore, this study aims to examine the question: Does event tourism impact the empowerment of rural women in Semnan Province?

Methodology

This research falls under the category of applied studies, and it employs a descriptive-correlational approach. Data were collected through two methods: library research and fieldwork. The sampling method was single-stage cluster sampling, and the data collection tool was a questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of all women in Semnan Province who participated in and played operational roles in tourism events within the region. The sample size was set at 384 individuals, determined using a formula for estimating sample size from an infinite population. Data analysis was performed using quantitative methods, including both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics analyzed demographic data via Excel, while inferential statistics examined the collected data with each research question tested through appropriate statistical tests. Linear regression analysis was used to test hypotheses, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient assessed reliability—all facilitated by SPSS software.



Results and discussion

The results of the data analysis in this study indicate that the perceived benefits of event tourism have the greatest impact on psychological empowerment, followed by social empowerment, and finally on economic empowerment of women in rural areas. Conversely, perceived costs of event tourism exert the most influence on social empowerment, followed by psychological empowerment, and ultimately on the economic empowerment of rural women. Overall, based on the findings of this research, the development of tourism—particularly event tourism—plays a highly significant role in empowering women, especially rural women, across various social, cultural, psychological, and economic dimensions. The analysis of the current study reveals that event tourism offers numerous benefits, including creating employment opportunities, fostering trade and entrepreneurship, improving the social environment, enhancing the overall quality of life, and significantly boosting the economic conditions of individuals and the region.



Conclusion

The findings indicate that the perceived benefits and costs of event tourism have a direct and significant impact on the economic, social, and psychological empowerment of rural women. Tourism is one of the avenues that enhances women's participation in social, cultural, and economic activities. The results of this study confirm that women's empowerment is realized across various dimensions, including economic, social-cultural, political, psychological, familial, legal, and rights-based aspects. Improving women's empowerment in these areas is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving sustainable development, particularly in rural areas where women traditionally participate in household economic activities and thus require greater attention. In this context, it can be said that tourism projects, especially local events and festivals, empower women. In other words, the development of local events not only contributes to regional tourism growth but also plays a crucial role in the sustainability of the local community from economic, social, and cultural perspectives. It is considered one of the essential strategies for the fair distribution of tourism benefits and advantages between women and men in a given region.