The report highlights the positive steps being taken at a policy level in recent years while demonstrating the work still needed to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 in the Middle East, mainly when compared with other regions of the world.
The top findings of the report show that:
- 8% of people employed in tourism in the region are women, compared to 16% in the overall economy of the region. At a global level, 54% of people employed in tourism are women compared to 39% in the broader global economy.
- Women are well-read but not joining the tourism workforce.
- Women have higher rates of tertiary education than men; however, they remain significantly underrepresented in employment.
- The public sector is leading the way for women in leadership roles.
- 21% of Tourism Ministers are female in the region compared to 23% at a global level.
To quote the UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, “Tourism has historically provided abundant opportunities for women’s empowerment all over the world. In the Middle East, while there is much progress still to be made, our Member States are leading the charge. As tourism restarts, we will work with them to ensure gender equality remains center stage in their recovery plans, empowering women to become financially independent, challenge stereotypes and start their own businesses.”
The reports also show that in employment, self-employment and SME ownership, women’s involvement is significantly lower than men’s across the region with an unwillingness towards working in tourism. Concerns over balancing family and work life as well as legislative barriers have been found to be among the primary contributing factors for this.
Tags: Middle East, women, UNWTO
