Women in tourism bring added value to the sector - President Coleiro Preca

President of Malta and Patron of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca delivered the opening speech at a masterclass about women in tourism leadership organised as part of the 5th Mediterranean Tourism Forum, with the theme Women as crucial contributors to peace by developing sustainable tourism strategies.

Coleiro Preca announced the launch of the Mediterranean Women in Tourism and Hospitality Assembly - the MedWITH Assembly - a new chapter within the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation which will be dedicated to the advancement of women in the tourism and hospitality industries.

“I am confident that, with support from industry partners, the MedWITH Assembly will deliver innovative initiatives that promote leadership skills and development opportunities for talented women,” the President said, whilst thanking Tony Zahra and Andrew Agius Muscat, together with their collaborators and the board of governors, for spearheading this initiative and for their vision in setting up the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation.

President Coleiro Preca said that as a woman of the Mediterranean, and as a UNWTO Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism, she can clearly see the importance of having this Mediterranean Women in Tourism and Hospitality Assembly, stating that it is vital “for us to keep highlighting the important role that women can, and do play, in order to make our peacebuilding efforts through the tourism sector more effective.”

The President quoted an international study commissioned by UN Women which states that tourism is one of the world’s largest generators of wealth and employment. This same report also states that tourism further provides a wide range of income-generation opportunities for women, particularly in developing regions.

The report, which was the one of the first of its kind to map out the participation of women in the global tourism sector, states that women are almost twice as likely to be employers in tourism, as compared to other sectors.

The President also quoted another report issued by the United States Institute of Peace, which makes it clear that women are making essential contributions, across all levels of society, as agents for peaceful development.

According to another report, entitled Women: Empowerment through Tourism, which contributed to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s action plan on women’s empowerment in tourism, states that the participation of women in tourism brings many levels of positive impact.

The examples given in this report show a great potential for tourism in promoting equitable and sustainable development, especially in marginalised communities, which are underpinned by the process of women’s empowerment.

“However, the support of outside agencies and NGOs is often needed, to assist in capacity building and resource management, as well as training in important skills. Therefore, there is the need for the private sector to work in strong synergy with civil society, as well as national governments,” President Coleiro Preca stated.

The President said that, “we must recognise the fundamental reality, that empowered women are essential to create empowered and resilient communities, nations, regions and a stronger world,” and quoted once again the Women: Empowerment through Tourism report, which also states that empowering women through tourism does more than merely transform the lives of individual women, and that most women look beyond themselves and translate economic profits into benefits for their entire families, working hard to meet the needs of their communities.

“Empowering women through tourism undoubtedly empowers whole communities and entire societies, promoting prosperity and resilience, both socially and economically,” President Coleiro Preca said whilst adding that through the efforts of the hospitality industry and all stakeholders working within the tourism industry, “it is possible for us to take tourism’s strategies for peaceful development to the next level by prioritising the visible participation of women.”