A new study by the Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE) shines a light on the systemic inequality in career advancement in the global tourism sector.

Women account for between 54 percent and 56 percent of the global tourism workforce, yet only 7 percent hold top management positions, Essential Business reports.

In Portugal, the study shows that no national tourism association is currently led by a woman. This is despite mechanisms specifically designed to combat gender inequalities in the labour market.

Representation falls with seniority

Another study, ‘Women in Tourism Leadership: The Representation Gap’, conducted by the Westmont Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, concludes that the representation of women decreases as they climb the corporate ladder within the sector.

According to data analysed by Nova SBE, women hold only 20 percent of C-suite executive positions, while that figure drops to 7 percent for top management roles.

The data is based on a 2023 report by Aptamind, supported by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Executive wage inequalities

The 2023 Travel Gender Pay Gap Index by C&M shows that inequality is also present in salaries, indicating that the wage gap between men and women in executive roles can reach as high as 38.45 percent.

The methodology of the study used a mapping approach that cross-referenced over 60 academic and institutional studies, interviews with industry leaders, and an international comparison of equality initiatives across more than a dozen countries.

Proposals for change

The researchers identified several factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions within the sector.

Proposed measures include performance-based professional evaluation and promotion, rather than basing them on hours spent at the workplace. The researchers also propose guaranteeing a return to the same professional level after maternity leave.

Other proposed measures include inter-company mentorship and sponsorship networks, along with disclosing metrics regarding career progression.