UN Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism of Paraguay have released a groundbreaking report on the role of women in the tourism sector. The study was presented ahead of the First Regional Conference on Women's Empowerment in Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Asunción, Paraguay, on 21-22 October.
In addition to providing an overview of the contribution women make to tourism globally, the paper highlights the importance of women's participation in driving sustainable, inclusive transformation in the sector.
Among other points, this new report highlights:
- The role of tourism as a vehicle for women's empowerment: women workers already represent 52% of the total regular workforce in the sector - a figure that rises to 60% in certain segments, such as accommodation and catering.
- The number of women in tourism education: 69% of the total number of people enrolled in tourism-related studies in the region are women - a figure that shows that they see tourism as a great source of opportunity for their future.
Latina women are the sector's driving force in the region, and this study makes concrete suggestions for promoting greater equality and women's participation in tourism
Apart from highlighting the positive aspects of the tourism sector for women in the region, the study also highlights the challenges they face. Among others, it highlights the job insecurity that flows from unregulated employment, and which mainly affects women. This instability makes it more difficult for women to access financing, social security and the labour rights that come with a decent, regulated job. Another fact that emerges from the analysis is that women are a minority in decision-making positions in tourism ministries, where they represent only 25%. They are also under-represented among tourism business owners and in positions of responsibility in general.
In Asunción, exploring strategies towards gender equality
The Asunción conference, which marks an important step towards gender equality in the tourism sector, brings together representatives from various Member States, women leaders in the tourism sector, as well as gender and tourism experts to discuss the findings of the report, and to share best practice from such initiatives in their own countries.
The event also includes roundtables and workshops to enable participants to explore strategies for implementing the report's recommendations and encouraging improved working conditions, as well as getting more women into leadership positions in the tourism sector.
"Tourism has enormous potential for women's empowerment, especially in the Latin American and Caribbean region," said Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism. "Latina women are the sector's driving force in the region, and this study makes concrete suggestions for promoting greater equality and women's participation in tourism - a key sector for economic development in many countries."
The First Lady of Paraguay, Leticia Ocampos de Peña, invited all Paraguayan women to the event, which she said was very important because it seeks to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women in the tourism sector, adding that "it will be an opportunity to promote the exchange of knowledge, for the implementation of policies with a gender perspective; to learn, grow and promote inclusive tourism."
For her part, the Minister of Tourism of Paraguay, Angie Duarte, highlighted the significance of SENATUR and UN Tourism's work in bringing together women from the national tourism sector, and thanked the First Lady, Leticia Ocampos, for her keen support for the initiative, which seeks to address gender inequalities within the sector and facilitate more opportunities for women's empowerment.
"This is a key moment to highlight the importance of women in the global tourism industry, and I invite all those women who are working for their own personal development and that of their communities to join us in this transformative event. Together, we can build a more equitable and prosperous future for all," she added.
