The women They represent 52% of the workforce in this sector, reaching 60% in areas such as accommodation and restaurants, according to a report presented by UN Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism of Paraguay.
Furthermore, another relevant fact that values female leadership in the transformation of the tourism sector towards sustainability and gender inclusion is the presence of women in studies related to tourism in Latin America, which represent 69% of the total.
This study has been made known within the framework of the First Regional Conference on Empowerment of Women in Tourismheld in Asunción, Paraguay, on October 21 and 22.
Although the bulk of the report highlights the positive aspects of the role of women in the sector, it also puts manifest the challenges those who face such as job insecurity derived from unregulated employment, or the overload of tasks where they often perform functions that entail a prolongation of their care role in the domestic space.
Along these lines, another fact that emerges from the analysis is that women are a minority in positions that involve decision-making in tourism ministries, where they represent only 25%. In the same way, they are underrepresented among the owners of tourism companies and in positions of responsibility.
According to the Secretary General of UN Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvili, tourism has “enormous potential” for the empowerment of women, especially in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
“Latin American women are the driving force of the sector in the region, and this study offers concrete measures to move towards greater equality and female participation in tourism, a key sector for the economic development of many countries,” she added.
For her part, the Minister of Tourism of Paraguay, Angie Duarte, has highlighted the interest of the National Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur) and UN Tourismto call on women who work in the national tourism sector. “It is a key moment to highlight the importance of women in the tourism industry worldwide. Together, we can build a more equitable and prosperous future for all,” she noted.
The conference in Asunción has brought together representatives of various member states, women leaders of the tourism sectoras well as experts in gender and tourism, to analyze the conclusions of the report and generate good practice protocols.
The event also featured roundtables and workshops that allowed participants to explore strategies to implement the report’s recommendations, thus fostering a greater participation of women in leadership positions in tourism.
