The Diplomat
UN Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism of Paraguay presented a groundbreaking report on the role of women in the tourism sector, coinciding with the First Regional Conference on Empowering Women in Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean, which was held in Asunción, Paraguay, October 21-22.
In addition to providing an overall picture of the contribution women make to tourism globally, the Regional Report on Women in Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean underscores the importance of women’s participation in leading sustainable and inclusive transformations in the sector.
Among other points, this new report highlights:
- The role of tourism as a vehicle of empowerment for women: women workers already represent 52% of the total regular workforce in the sector. A figure that reaches 60% in certain segments, such as accommodation and catering.
- The presence of women in education: 69% of the total number of people enrolled in tourism-related studies in the region are women. This data reveals that they recognize tourism as a great source of opportunities for their future.
In addition to 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 precariousness of employment, which involves unregulated employment and mainly affects women. This instability makes it more difficult for women to access financing, social security and the labor 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 underrepresented among tourism business owners and in positions of responsibility in general.
Exploring strategies toward gender equality
The Asunción conference, which marks an important step towards gender equality in the tourism sector, brought together representatives from various Member States, women leaders in the tourism sector, as well as gender and tourism experts, who analyzed the report’s findings and shared best practices of such initiatives in their countries.
The event also included roundtables and workshops that allowed participants to explore strategies to implement the report’s recommendations and encourage improved working conditions and greater participation of women in leadership positions in tourism.
“Tourism has enormous potential for the empowerment of women, especially in the Latin America and Caribbean region,” noted Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general of UN Tourism. “Latin women are the driving force of the sector in the region, and this study offers concrete steps to move towards greater equality and female participation in tourism, a key sector for the economic development of many countries.”
Paraguay’s First Lady, Leticia Ocampos de Peña, invited all Paraguayan women to this event, which she described as very important because it seeks to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women in the tourism sector. “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,” she stressed.
For her part, Paraguay’s Minister of Tourism, Angie Duarte, highlighted the interest of Senatur and UN Tourism in convening women working in the national tourism sector and expressed her gratitude to Leticia Ocampos, who did not hesitate to support the initiative, which seeks to address gender inequalities within the sector and facilitate more opportunities for their empowerment.
“This is a key moment to highlight the importance of women in the tourism industry globally, and I invite all those fellow women who add their efforts for personal and community development to join us in this transformative event. Together, we can build a more equitable and prosperous future for all,” she added.
