WTTC first-of-a-kind report reveals DEIB efforts in Travel & Tourism

10.11.2023 - 06:55 / breakingtravelnews.com / Julia Simpson

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled its first-ever global Travel & Tourism report focussing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) during its Global Summit, taking place in Kigali.
The report “Creating Belonging: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in Travel & Tourism” is the result of a collaboration between WTTC and HospitableMe, a global leader in inclusive hospitality.

Supported by AIG Travel, the report offers data around Travel & Tourism employment, aiming to equip both the public and private sector the tools they need to spark change and make Travel & Tourism more diverse & inclusive.

Drawing on data from six economies, Rwanda, Australia, U.S., UK, South Africa and the EU, it offers a deep dive on metrics such as gender, age, sexual orientation, disability status, and educational skills.

According to the global tourism body, the share of female workers in Travel & Tourism was highest in Australia, at 54%, followed by the U.S. (48%), higher than the overall average.

In terms of youth employment, the sector has always been considered a key employer for those aged under 25 years.

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This research shows the U.S. saw 26% of youth employees in the sector, more than twice the share of the total economy average (12%), with Australia (26%) and Rwanda (24%) following closely.

Last year, according to this new study, UK’s Travel & Tourism employed a higher share of LGBTQ+ employees (5.2%) than the overall economy (4%), with a near 2.7 percentage points increase since 2011.

Workers with a disability status made up nearly 17% of the UK’s Travel & Tourism workforce, while in the U.S. sector, they represented nearly 5%, both marginally higher than the overall economy (16.6% and 4.4%, respectively).

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.

“Our sector has come a long way. Across the board, we are seeing efforts and changes led by major Travel & Tourism businesses, who are now paying more attention to creating a sense of belonging, supporting their employees, regardless of who they are or where they come from.”

Kenny Porpora, HospitableMe Partner and Head of Education, said: “This first of its kind survey shows the tourism sector’s commitment to building a more inclusive world through travel.

“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. We are here to extend our hand to industry leaders, urging them to harness these findings and join us on a transformative journey.