Women entrepreneurs in tourism in a time of a life event crisis

Female entrepreneurship drives tourism development in resource-scarce destinations but little is known about why local women engage business and what determines their success a time of life event crisis. This knowledge important as it can support policies on regional regeneration poverty alleviation. study draws upon the Bourdieu's model practice with its notions capital, agents, field, habitus to examine experiences running enterprises destination legacy an anthropogenic environmental disaster, Aral Sea region. Semi-structured interviews entrepreneurs Uzbekistan (n = 18) Kazakhstan 15) showcase prevalence necessity-based extrinsic motivations Interviews also demonstrate importance social capital built such agents entrepreneurial family, friends, policymakers, employees, competitors. The original contribution revealing how cultural traditions reinforce various types strengthen field knowledge, shape critical times. Another highlighting experience past crises has aided psychological coping during COVID-19.