The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlighted the importance of women’s participation in travel and tourism at the Women Deliver Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
According to the global tourism body, women constitute 54 percent of the workforce. And while Travel & Tourism provides accessible opportunities for women, it also faces disparities such as lower pay and job security. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a loss of 62 million jobs in Travel & Tourism, most of these females.
The event served as a platform to address challenges faced by women in the Travel & Tourism sector, explore strategies to overcome them, and ways to inspire change and promote equal opportunities for women. The conference also emphasized the vital importance of mentorship programs for younger women to unlock their potential for economic transformation through networking, opportunity and resources.
Panel discussions focused on challenges faced by women in various aspects of the business, including barriers to entry, operational obstacles, and ecosystem limitations.
In her conference address, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said “It is proven that companies that have 50% women in their leadership make more money. This makes even more sense in travel and tourism where women make the buying decisions on where to go on holiday. It also makes good sense to employ women in senior roles; why would you exclude access to 50% of global talent.”
She added that “Rwanda has a great track record with a majority of women MPs in the Parliament. President Kagame addressed the Women Deliver for the first time held in Africa, with real passion and a track record of gender equality. Putting women centre stage in Travel & Tourism will ensure a better future for the sector and the global economy. Currently, more than half of the sector is made up of women. By addressing the barriers and inequalities they face, we can unlock immense potential and drive sustainable growth. The 'Women Deliver’ event serves as a catalyst for change, bringing together sector leaders, policymakers, and advocates to work collectively towards a more diverse and prosperous future.”
WTTC remains committed to advocating for gender equality, working closely with its members, governments, and industry partners to foster an environment where women have equal opportunities to excel, lead, and shape the future of the travel and tourism sector.
The council continues to urge public and private sectors to play their part in promoting women’s participation in the Travel & Tourism sector. In addition, governments should adopt policies promoting women in senior management, such as mandatory quotas for publicly listed companies and state-owned enterprises. The private sector should also offer targeted professional development programs for women and create networking and mentoring opportunities.
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