WTTC examines global travel and tourism employment trends

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, has released its latest report, “Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment,” which reveals the impact of the pandemic on women and youth employment within the sector globally.

The report examines employment trends in 185 economies between 2019 and 2022, highlighting the sector’s potential as a key driver of economic growth and social progress.

During the latest health crisis, more than 70 million people working in the travel and tourism sector lost their jobs, with women and young people being the most affected.

According to the study, these groups were disproportionately affected.

While the sector has seen a strong recovery overall, the report found that the industry employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people in 2022, down markedly from the 48.4 million women (-13%) and nearly 19 million young workers (15%) supported by the sector in 2019.

While employment in the sector has made progress in its recovery and is expected to surpass 2019 levels by the end of 2024, jobs held by women and young people have not regenerated at the same rate.

Currently, tourism activity remains a vital source of jobs for underrepresented groups, however the study makes clear that more must be done to ensure an inclusive and equitable recovery.

According to the latest EIR data, in 2023, the contribution to GDP of the travel and tourism sector increased by 29.1% above pre-pandemic levels, outperforming the global average, which remained 4.1% below.
  
However, despite this economic rebound, social recovery continued to lag, particularly for women and young people, who remain more likely to be trapped in informal, part-time or low-wage jobs, without security or growth potential.

Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, said: “This report highlights the extraordinary potential of travel and tourism to drive inclusive growth, but also underlines the urgent need for action. 

“Women and young people are the backbone of our sector, but they continue to face significant barriers.

It is critical that these challenges are learned from and measures are put in place to protect these groups from being disproportionately affected in future crises.

“By investing in skills, promoting inclusive policies and encouraging entrepreneurship, we can unleash the full potential of these groups and ensure our sector leads the way in creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities,” added Julia Simpson.

The study also highlights that women continue to lag behind in leadership positions and wages.

Young workers, who make up a larger proportion of the travel and tourism workforce compared to the wider economy, face particular challenges in accessing stable employment.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting youth and female employment in the travel and tourism sector.

“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 underlines the Kingdom’s commitment to ensuring that travel and tourism is a key driver of social change.

“Our substantial investments in 2024 include 375 million riyals for skills development, training local tour guides who gain in-depth knowledge of our nation’s rich history and landscapes. Others are becoming entrepreneurs, focusing on creativity, leadership and digital skills.”

Ahmed Al Khateeb highlighted that in 2022, Saudi women’s employment in tourism was the fifth fastest growing among G20 countries.

“The focus on localizing services, in areas such as AlUla and Diriyah, has created new opportunities for women in heritage tourism jobs. Through stronger partnerships, tourism can be transformed into a vehicle for inclusive development, creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all,” he concluded.

Source: WTTC.