Global Study on Women in Tourism: the Transport Industry

Tourism, as a female-dominated sector with women making up 54% of the workforce (UN Tourism, 2019), has enormous potential to empower women and bring societies closer towards gender equality. However, a closer examination reveals significant gender disparities in employment conditions across the tourism’s component industries.

UN Tourism and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) are collaborating on a groundbreaking Global study on Women in Tourism Transport Employment, to document in greater detail than ever before the participation of women in tourism transport employment.

This initiative aims to highlight women's roles, challenges, and opportunities within the sector. The study will shed light on existing gender gaps, analyse the barriers women face in entering and advancing their careers, and provide actionable recommendations to promote fair and equitable employment opportunities.

The report will act as a springboard for future work to reduce gender-inequalities, to improve the conditions of women workers and prevent gender-based discrimination and violence in tourism transport employment. The study will also serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and organizations committed to promoting gender diversity and inclusion in the sector.

The research phase – which will mainly focus on land passenger transport (railway and road passenger transport); water passenger transport; and air passenger transport – is scheduled to take place throughout 2025, with the final report expected to be published in early 2026.