Advancing women’s economic empowerment in the tourism sector in COVID-19 response and recovery

This publication explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s economic empowerment in the tourism sector. The restrictions of movement applied as a response to the pandemic all but destroyed the global tourism industry. This has disproportionately affected women due to the industry’s pre-existing gender inequalities and women’s predominance in the sector’s workforce.

The document examines emerging research and data on these impacts, identifies innovative responses to these challenges across regions, and makes concrete recommendations for action by different stakeholders to ensure that women’s economic empowerment is central to the COVID-19 response and recovery in the tourism sector.