Abstract ID: 3.12032 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Gender equity is essential across all industries and holds particular importance in Nepal’s adventure tourism sector. However, societal norms, limited training opportunities, safety concerns, and cultural biases have long discouraged women from pursuing careers in Nepal’s male-dominated mountain trekking industry. Female guides face persistent discrimination that hinders both entry and advancement in the profession, despite consistently demonstrating their skills and expertise on the trail. The Himalayan Women Trail Leaders Initiative is a groundbreaking project that seeks to dismantle existing barriers by providing women with access to professional development opportunities while raising awareness about the importance of gender equity across the industry. This presentation examines impacts of the initiative, discussing key strategies for dismantling gender-based barriers and analyzing broader implications for gender equity in mountain tourism. By integrating insights from Nepali women guides, we will explore how targeted interventions can foster inclusivity, empowerment, equity, and sustainability in traditionally male-dominated mountain industries, ultimately enriching the mountain experience for all. Participants will be encouraged to discuss and reflect on their positionality as researchers, travelers, or industry professionals, and examine how gendered power dynamics are constructed, negotiated, and challenged in mountain tourism spaces.