Gender, tourism and politics in Southeast Asia.

Abstract

Tourism has developed into one of the world's largest industries, yet it is also one of the most profoundly gendered. While the majority of women do not design policies, own large businesses or - until recently - even travel, the industry has been built on their involvement in the formal and informal economies, as marketing tools and also as sex workers. Leveraging on women's appeal to largely male visitors and their availability as cheap labour, Southeast Asian states have constructed their political and economic strategies around them, utilising their participation in the sector -whether voluntary or involuntary - to achieve economic growth, equitable development, political legitimacy, international recognition as well as stronger bilateral and regional ties. Focusing largely on the mature touristic destinations of Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, this paper posits that Southeast Asia's tourism industry is built on such gendered bases, with women's marginalisation and disadvantaged position critical to states' capacity to accomplish their economic and political goals.