TravTalk India Online Magazine
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), along with the Department of Tourism, Philippines, organised the first-ever ‘PATA International Conference on Women in Travel’ on the pristine island of Bohol in the Philippines recently.
Nisha Verma from Bohol, Philippines
The three-day event, held at the BE Grand Resort in Bohol 20-22 from March, featured engaging panel discussions and insightful presentations. Approximately 200 delegates representing 15 destinations attended the conference, comprising industry luminaries, policymakers, and advocates, who convened to delve into the pivotal role of women within the travel and tourism sector. Over the course of the conference, participants delved into the myriad challenges and opportunities encountered by women in the travel industry, celebrating their accomplishments, while also confronting issues of gender bias. The overarching goal was to underscore the urgent necessity for gender equality and empowerment within the tourism workforce, emphasising on the significance of inclusivity and professional advancement for all women involved in travel.
Leading with example
H.E. Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Philippines, in her keynote address expressed gratitude to the attendees for coming to Bohol for the conference and said that sustainability of Philippines tourism hinges on advancing gender equality and upholding women’s rights. “The Department of Tourism Philippines has launched initiatives like TourISM WorCS to address women and children-related challenges, alongside the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Training programme training over 70,000 women for the tourism workforce. Notably, women constitute 56 per cent of the department’s workforce, with 62 per cent in official positions. With the development of a comprehensive sex-disaggregated database, evidence-based policies will foster female leadership and gender-sensitive decisions, driving progress in the sector’s future. Holding this conference in the Philippines is timely, We recognise the importance of this conference focusing on empowering women, tourism professionals, promoting gender equality, fostering leadership stories, successes, and opportunities,” she said.
The DOT, for the first time ever, has appointed Tourism Integrates, Supports, and Minds Women’s Rights and Child Safety (TourISM WoRCS) Officers across the regions in the country to ensure that the Philippines “remains a woman- and child-safe destination”, with the Tourism Worcs manual soon to be rolled out among the Department’s various operational units to equip them with the knowledge and tools to effectively combat sexual harassment, trafficking and gender-based violence within the sector, she informed.
A successful step
Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA, in his address said, “PATA remains committed to organising the PATA International Conference on Women in Travel with other member destinations in the future to ensure that conversations on women’s empowerment can continue and be elevated. As a community, we must unite to discuss tangible strategies aimed at breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and implementing industry-wide changes that pave the pathways for women to excel in the travel industry. It is the Association’s wish that this event served as a catalyst for impactful initiatives and collaborative efforts towards a better future for women in all facets of tourism.”
The conference had a strong line-up of international delegates, who shared their insights on varied topics, including ‘Breaking Barriers: Women’s Empowerment in the Travel Industry’, ‘Gender Equality and Development’, ‘Women Behind the Scenes’, ‘Tourism Startups and Entrepreneurship’, ‘Leading the Way: Inspirational Women in Travel’, and ‘Sustainable Travel: Women as Agents of Change’.
