Friday, November 3, 2023
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveiled its inaugural global Travel & Tourism report centered on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) today, as part of its Global Summit being held in Kigali.
The report titled “Creating Belonging: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in Travel & Tourism” is a collaborative effort between WTTC and HospitableMe, a global leader in inclusive hospitality.
It provides an in-depth analysis of metrics like gender, age, sexual orientation, disability status, and educational skills by utilizing data from six economies: Rwanda, Australia, USA, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the European Union.
According to the global tourism organization, Australia leads with the highest percentage of female employees in the travel and tourism industry (54%), followed by the United States (48%). In the United States, 26% of young people work in this sector, more than double the global average (12%), with Australia and Rwanda closely behind at 26% and 24%, respectively.
In the UK, the travel industry employed 5.2% LGBTQ+ workers last year, higher than the overall economy’s 4%, a 2.7% increase since 2011. For employees with disabilities, the UK’s rate in the sector is nearly 17%, slightly above the overall economy’s 16.6%. In the U.S., it’s almost 5%, surpassing the country’s 4.4% overall rate.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Travel & Tourism has always been a people sector, whatever their background. Hospitality goes beyond travellers; it is about how we welcome and care for our colleagues and employees.”
Kenny Porpora, HospitableMe Partner and Head of Education, said: “The insights we’ve gained through this survey make it clear that inclusivity remains both a core strength and formidable challenge for the travel industry.”
The Travel & Tourism sector employs a diverse workforce, including those with lower formal education levels, more than the general economy in the EU, UK, and the U.S. A report, based on WTTC Member surveys, offers insights and best practices for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the industry. The findings highlight areas for improvement, such as DEIB education, leadership support, recruitment enhancements, and research. Notably, 60% of analyzed companies have dedicated staff for DEIB efforts, underlining its significance in fostering true hospitality and partnership.
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
