A World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) report released at a G20 ministerial summit in Brazil has highlighted “the heavy toll” the Covid-19 pandemic took on the employment of woman and young people in travel.
The WTTC report, ‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment’, noted almost 70 million workers in the industry lost their jobs during the pandemic, with women and young people disproportionately affected.
The report, produced jointly with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism, includes data on employment across 185 economies in 2019 and in 2022.
It records the industry employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people in 2022, compared with 48.4 million women and 19 million young workers in 2019.
The WTTC called for urgent action “to unlock the potential of women and youth” in the industry and suggested: “It’s critical we implement measures to protect these groups from being disproportionately affected in future crises.”
The latest Economic Impact Report produced by the WTTC estimates the global GDP contribution of travel and tourism rose 29% above pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
But the report suggests the ‘social recovery’ in the industry has lagged the economic recovery “particularly for women and young people who remain more likely to be stuck in informal, part-time or low-wage roles”.
WTTC president and chief executive Julia Simpson said: “This report highlights the extraordinary potential of travel and tourism to drive inclusive growth but also underscores the urgent need for action.”
She argued: “Women and young people are the backbone of our sector, yet they continue to face significant barriers.
“By investing in skills, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering entrepreneurship, we can unlock the full potential of these groups and ensure our sector leads the way in creating sustainable employment opportunities.”
The report also highlights that women remain “underrepresented in high-wage and leadership roles”, with the gender split in travel and tourism employment “mirroring that of the wider economy”, and it suggests young workers “face particular challenges in accessing stable employment”.
It calls on governments and the industry to develop skills training and gender equality policies, enhance job opportunities for women and youth, invest in education and leadership programmes, implement inclusive hiring practices and equal pay, support flexible work arrangements and childcare, and support start-ups and small businesses.
The WTTC described the report as “a clarion call to governments and businesses to prioritise the inclusion of women and youth in the workforce, to invest in their skills and future, and to ensure the benefits of travel & tourism are shared by all”.
Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb welcomed the report and emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment “to ensuring travel and tourism is a key driver of social change”.