Tourism event addresses need for gender equality
Gender equality in tourism came under the spotlight as the central theme of the 63rd meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas, held in Paraguay earlier this month.
Organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the National Tourism Secretariat of Paraguay, the event highlighted the importance of advancing towards greater gender equity in tourism so that the sector can deploy its full potential in favour of sustainable development.
‘Women’s Empowerment in the Tourism Sector’ was the central theme of the latest edition of the International Seminar, held alongside the other ministerial meetings.
Tourism policies, the role of education, as well as ways to promote greater levels of leadership by women, were all topics addressed in the framework of the goal of achieving gender equality in tourism.
As a sector that is constantly growing on par with or outpacing the global economy, and accounting for up to 10 per cent of the world’s employment, tourism is ideally positioned to contribute to greater gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Zurab Pololikashvili
Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO’s secretary-general, said: “We participate directly and indirectly in almost all areas of the economy and society. Our strength as an economic sector also obliges us to assume social responsibility.
He also recalled that “the active participation of men and women” is necessary “to advance the economic empowerment of women and their greater presence in decision-making positions”.
Latin America and the Caribbean lead the world with the highest percentage of female employment in tourism, although this is concentrated in service and administrative positions (62%), as compared to professional and managerial levels (36%), with women earning between 10% and 15% less than their male counterparts. However, there are almost twice as many women entrepreneurs in tourism than in any other sector (51%).
Paraguay, host country of the 63rd meeting of the CAM, is an example of the better employment, entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities that tourism can offer to women, as highlighted by the Marcela Bacigalupo, the country’s Minister of Tourism of Paraguay.
Citing the example of the country’s more than 200 tourism inns, 95% of which are managed by women, she said: “This initiative was born from a need to generate economic development, and it not only served to generate a source of income for women, but also to awaken faith in the tourism potential of Paraguay.”
The seminar featured practices promoted in the region to showcase tourism products and projects led by women, as well as case studies that show how destinations can be more competitive through the introduction of gender equality policies and investment in projects for the empowerment of women.
The 64th Meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas will be held in Guatemala during the second quarter of 2019.
