World Tourism Day: Women supporting the tourism industry
Date:
World Tourism Day is commemorated each year on 27th of September. The industry benefits entire families and communities, and women's lives are intrinsically linked to this sector.
Countries like Kenya rely on tourism for a large portion of their gross national product and this industry relies heavily on safety and security networks, including the national police. For tourists and citizens to feel safe, a good police force is essential. Many in the Kenyan police are women, who help protect the thousands of visitors who flock to the East African nation each year.
And through new gender sensitization programmes, the police are trying to serve the public better. This includes protecting women and girls from violations such as sexual violence. Learn how efforts are being made to expand the police force and boost gender equality throughout the security and justice systems in Kenya. Read more »
The Latin American nation of Mexico relies on tourism for employment opportunities and for related business growth. The tourism industry, still largely dominated by men, does provide jobs for the community. But some women are looking beyond their paychecks and seeing how they can build businesses of their own which are also sustainable.
Through programmes that are aimed at empowering them, women are coming together to break the gender bias and become economically independent. Learn about the green hotel that finds a balance between tourism and nature in line with an indigenous cultural heritage. Read more »
Related Videos
Today more than half of the world's population — approximately 3.4 billion people — live in cities, a number that is projected to increase to 69 percent by 2050. With this rapid urbanization comes increased risks for the citizens of urban areas, especially women and children. With this in mind, UNICEF, UN-HABITAT and UN Women have launched a five-year programme, “Safe and Friendly Cities for All, which aims at making women and children feel safer in their local neighbourhoods and improving their quality of life.