The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) emphasized the crucial role of women's engagement in the Travel & Tourism industry to foster its growth and ensure a robust and resilient sector. Speaking at the Women Deliver Global Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, stressed the significance of promoting women's involvement in the sector and overcoming challenges for success in the business world.

The conference provided a platform to address the obstacles faced by women in the Travel & Tourism sector and explore strategies to surmount them, with the ultimate goal of inspiring change and promoting equal opportunities for women in the industry.

Panel discussions shed light on the challenges women encounter in various aspects of the business, including barriers to entry, operational obstacles, and ecosystem limitations.

One key highlight of the event was the recognition of mentorship's vital role in empowering young women and girls in business. Mentorship programs, by providing networking opportunities and resources, help unlock their potential for economic transformation.

Julia Simpson emphasized the proven benefits of having women in leadership positions. She stated, "It is proven that companies with 50% women in 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?"

Highlighting Rwanda's exemplary track record in gender equality, President Kagame's passionate address further underscored the significance of placing women at the center stage of Travel & Tourism for a better future.

Currently, women constitute more than half of the sector, but disparities such as lower pay and job security persist. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly evident, with a majority of the 62 million jobs lost in the travel and tourism sector belonging to women.

WTTC is urging both the public and private sectors to play a proactive role in promoting women's participation in the Travel & Tourism industry. Governments are encouraged to adopt policies that foster women in senior management, including mandatory quotas for publicly listed companies and state-owned enterprises.

The private sector is called upon to develop targeted professional development programs for women and create networking and mentoring opportunities.

WTTC remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for gender equality. The organization continues to collaborate closely with its members, governments, and industry partners to cultivate an environment where women have equal opportunities to excel, lead, and shape the future of the travel and tourism sector. As women account for more than 50% of the sector's workforce, their active involvement is not only essential for the sector's success but also imperative for driving sustainable growth in the global economy.