ABSTRACT
The United Nations Tourism World Organisation supports tourism that contributes to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The chapter aims to discuss how gender is perceived in South Africa within the context of its Responsible Tourism policy. Responsible Tourism is seen to be a means to achieve the goals of Sustainable Development by the post-1994 South African Government. Sustainable Development Goal 5, of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, addresses issues pertaining to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The equality and empowerment of women in post-1994 South Africa is a prerogative for the South African Government, based on the marginalisation of women in South Africa prior to 1994. For purposes of this chapter, content analysis was undertaken, utilising the Responsible Tourism policy in South Africa. Findings point to the potential socio-economic benefits for women, through Responsible Tourism practice. Gender equality and empowerment in the South African Responsible Tourism workplace require further development in terms of interpretation and implementation of policy. Furthermore, terminology needs to be aligned, bearing cognisance of South Africa's historical context, with reference to the term, women, in policy, in relation to terminology such as gender, age, sex, race, and the disabled.
