The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, has released a report highlighting the significant impact of the pandemic on women and youth employment within the global travel and tourism sector. The report calls for urgent measures to ensure a more inclusive and equitable recovery.

During the pandemic, nearly 70 million jobs were lost in the travel and tourism sector, with women and young people disproportionately affected due to their higher representation in the hardest-hit areas like hospitality and food services. The report emphasizes that although the sector has seen a strong recovery, employment for women and young people remains below pre-pandemic levels.

In 2022, the sector employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people, which is notably lower than the figures from 2019. Women remain underrepresented in leadership and high-wage roles, while young workers continue to struggle with accessing stable employment.

Despite the travel and tourism sector contributing 29.1% more to global GDP than pre-pandemic levels in 2023, the social recovery for women and young workers is still lagging. Many of them remain in informal, part-time, or low-wage roles without growth opportunities.

The WTTC report urges governments and the travel and tourism sector to take immediate action to address these disparities. Key recommendations include policies for gender equality, skills training, better job opportunities, education programs, inclusive hiring, equal pay, flexible work arrangements, and promoting entrepreneurship through support for start-ups and small businesses.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts in supporting youth and female employment, stating that Saudi women’s employment in tourism was the fifth fastest-growing among G20 countries in 2022. Al Khateeb noted that localizing services in areas like AlUla and Diriyah has opened new opportunities for women in heritage tourism roles.

Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, emphasized that by investing in skills, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering entrepreneurship, the travel and tourism sector can unlock the full potential of women and young people, ensuring meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities for all.

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