GOOOOOOO WOMEN................
Plea for more recognition of women in tourism
August 8th, 2011 by Andrew Moth | Categories: food, hotels, industry, people, restaurants, tourism, training
In the picture above is Stacey Lee Chan, one of the growing number of women chefs helping to expand the appeal of the South African hospitality industry as a career choice.
A plea for greater recognition of the role played by women in the tourism and hospitality industries has been made by Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU), on the eve of National Women’s Day tomorrow.
Although women performed key roles and responsibilities at all levels of the Western Cape’s tourism industry, their valuable contribution was not always acknowledged, he said.
“Tourism and hospitality are labour-intensive industries providing ample opportunities for women with their unique strengths and abilities to thrive. Significant progress has been made, but we are concerned that in some of the sub-sectors women are still struggling to break through the proverbial glass ceiling,” Gilfellan said today.
“Although women are well-represented in the tourism industry, too many occupy the lower echelons of the employment structures. It is time that more of them are employed as general managers, directors of companies and senior executives in government and other agencies.”
In recognition of the importance of women in the industry, CTRU fully supports the following United Nations World Tourism Organisation proposals to elevate the role of women in tourism:
Although women performed key roles and responsibilities at all levels of the Western Cape’s tourism industry, their valuable contribution was not always acknowledged, he said.
“Tourism and hospitality are labour-intensive industries providing ample opportunities for women with their unique strengths and abilities to thrive. Significant progress has been made, but we are concerned that in some of the sub-sectors women are still struggling to break through the proverbial glass ceiling,” Gilfellan said today.
“Although women are well-represented in the tourism industry, too many occupy the lower echelons of the employment structures. It is time that more of them are employed as general managers, directors of companies and senior executives in government and other agencies.”
In recognition of the importance of women in the industry, CTRU fully supports the following United Nations World Tourism Organisation proposals to elevate the role of women in tourism:
• The general improvement of the role and status of women in the tourism industry
• Create awareness of the opportunities available to women at all levels of the travel and tourism industry
• Ensure that women’s matters and gender equality are high on the agendas of tourism policy and legislative processes
• Support good training, development and career opportunities for women in or wanting to enter the industry
• Support policy and legislation that provides for equal opportunity and equal pay for female employees
• Strongly speak out against sexual and other exploitation of women and children in the industry
• Acknowledge and celebrate women’s immense contribution to the industry
• Create awareness of the opportunities available to women at all levels of the travel and tourism industry
• Ensure that women’s matters and gender equality are high on the agendas of tourism policy and legislative processes
• Support good training, development and career opportunities for women in or wanting to enter the industry
• Support policy and legislation that provides for equal opportunity and equal pay for female employees
• Strongly speak out against sexual and other exploitation of women and children in the industry
• Acknowledge and celebrate women’s immense contribution to the industry
