USAID Turizam and UN Women have started intensive work with hotels on the adoption of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)
Women in Tourism
To ensure society achieves its full potential and economic prosperity, it is essential to provide equal opportunities for all.
USAID Turizam and UN Women initiated a collaboration dedicated to gender equality at the beginning of November. The aim of Women in Tourim: Creating Opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovinais to encourage as many companies in the tourism sector as possible to adopt Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).
Karl Wurster, the director of the USAID/BiH Office for Economic Development, described this partnership as a joint mission to advance the tourism sector: “We invite all employees in the tourism sector to join us in this pivotal moment with the aim of adopting the principles, because gender equality not only leads to better business results – it defines the future of tourism in BiH.“
As part of this collaboration, the first Webinar on the topic of WEPs was held. The webinar was aimed at 4 and 5-star hotels, to better acquaint them with the Principles and to understand why it is important that gender-aware policies are implemented and gender equality is promoted in their work environments.
Watch the record of webinar on USAID Turizam YouTube Channel:
Why are the Women’s Empowerment Principles Important?
The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) were developed by the UN Women and UN Global Compact, andserve as a guide for businesses, providing comprehensive information on implementing gender equality policies in the workplace, along with a broader impact on the community and labor market. The importance of this program is also confirmed by the fact that it is a leading program for involving the private sector in addressing gender equality issues. Currently, there are more than 8,000 signatories of this program worldwide. While in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are only 16 signatories, companies from hospitality and tourism sector are not part of this program Therefore, collaboration with the UN Women agency is an important milestone for the BiH tourism sector in promoting gender equality and empowering women’s rights.
The essence of the cooperation between the USAID Turizam project and UN Women agency is to encourage inclusive business practices, which will ensure the economic empowerment of women and advocate for gender equality. Through joint efforts, work will be done to raise awareness of the importance of implementing the Women’s Empowerment Principles in the workplace.
„Empowering women in the tourism sector not only promotes gender equality, but also stimulates economic growth by creating a dynamic, diverse and skilled workforce.. It alsoencouragesinnovation, supportsanentrepreneurship, and contributes tosustainable development at both local and national levels.“ – Jo-Anne Bishop, representative of the UN Women BiH.
Women’s Representation in Tourism
Regarding the current data on women’s representation in the broader tourism value chain, the 2019 report on global tourism trends shows that women in the hospitality sector hold less than 40% of managerial positions, less than 20% of general managerial roles, and less than 8% of board positions. Furthermore, women in tourism overall earn 14.7% less than their male colleagues and constitute only 23% of participation in ministerial positions in tourism.
USAID Turizam and UN Women with their initiated collaboration, aim to demonstrate that empowering women in tourism leads to economic growth, increases workforce capacity, and creates a more inclusive environment for all. Moreover, promoting gender equality positively affects the destination’s image, making it more attractive to tourists who value a society’s diversity and equality. The fact is that actively involving women in tourism contributes to creating a destination that fits the profile of socially-responsible travel. Gender equality directly impacts the dynamism of the destination and the sustainability of tourism, contributing to prosperity throughout the entire value chain.
To ensure full capacity and economic prosperity for society, it is essential to provide equal opportunities for all. In dynamic business environment, gender equality becomes an imperative of business policies, but how well are these applied in the workplace?
The challenges faced by women in the tourism sector cannot be overlooked. Gender stereotypes, unequal opportunities, and balancing between professional and private life present significant barriers. Although women and men participate in similar proportions as employees in tourism, the percentage representation should not be mistaken for actual impact – women are overly represented in the lowest-paid positions and are more often subjected to discriminatory practices by employers regarding parenthood than men.
First and foremost, the lack of women in managerial positions affects decision-making and results in business policies that neglect the position of women in the workplace. This problem is further exacerbated by other forms of discrimination such as unequal pay, as well as the occurrence of gender-based violence in the workplace. For tourism to be sustainable and prosperous for people and the country, it is essential to include all actors equally. Therefore, the perspective of gender equality in sustainable tourism is an indispensable point of development.
Gender-Aware Policies Lead to Prosperity
Ultimately, the Women’s Empowerment Principles open the possibility for women to realize their full potential, which includes making independent economic decisions. USAID Turizam and UN Women are committed to gender equality, which will provide women with high-quality education and career advancement. This is confirmed by Sandra Pačić, co-owner of the Havala Kule Vakuf inn and a participant in the CEI Nahla Bihać training supported by the USAID Turizam project: „The trainings have given me a boost and the motivation to continue in tourism and to constantly improve my business.“
