FITUR Woman explored the emotional connection between people and tourist destinations and its impact on social well-being and sustainable development in countries
The 5th edition of FITUR Woman, held on January 23, organised by FITUR and Women Leading Tourism (WLT), highlighted the role of role of female leadership in the future of tourism industry. This dedicated space took place within the framework of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), that is currently being held in Madrid and organised by IFEMA Madrid.
In a press statement, FITUR Woman says that during the closing session, Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, stressed the importance of initiatives like WLT and FITUR Woman. “We must work to secure the present and future of women in the tourism sector,” said Grau.
Rosario Sánchez Grau
The statement adds that with the support of Extremadura and under the theme Tourism: Commitment and Pride of Belonging, FITUR Woman explored the emotional connection between people and tourist destinations and its impact on social well-being and sustainable development in countries, regions, and local communities. Female leadership remained the central theme, with the event featuring prominent leaders from the business and government sectors.
Maribel Rodríguez
“The tourism sector consists of both men and women, with women accounting for 54 pc, but only a few hold leadership roles, and just 25 pc are CEOs. We need to move toward sustainable, inclusive, and participatory tourism that includes all stakeholders and recognizes that leadership is not possible without women,” says Maribel Rodríguez, President, Women Leading Tourism (WLT).
“Women’s participation is essential in an industry like tourism, which is key to economic and cultural development, creates wealth, and generates emotions. Tourism, when used sustainably and responsibly, is a powerful tool to manage the bond between people and their emotions,” said María Guardiola Martín, President, Regional Government of Extremadura.
María Guardiola Martín
Guardiola also pointed out that over 60 pc of leadership positions are held by men, emphasising that there was still a long way to go to achieve equality.
FITUR Woman also hosted a panel discussion on the challenges of tourism, emphasising the importance of collaboration. “To protect my country’s natural and cultural wealth, public-private collaboration is essential. For this purpose, we are uniting the private, academic, and public sectors to connect communities with tourist destinations. Tourism helps combat poverty,” said María Lourdes Prieto, President, National Tourism Business Council (CNET), Mexico.
María Lourdes Prieto
Another key focus of the panel discussion was the importance of alliances to enhance women’s role in the tourism sector moderated by Matilde Almandoz, Vice President of WLT and President of OPC (Spanish Federation of Congresses and Events), featuring, among other experts, Belén Valentín-Gamazo, President of ADEAPE (Spanish Association of Event Staff Agencies), and Teresa García, President of ASEET (Association of Female Executives in Tourism Companies).
The event also included other presentations and sessions on topics such as Africa Outlook, destinations and culture, sustainable and inclusive businesses.
The statement adds that, Women Leading Tourism recognitions were awarded to various personalities in the tourism sector. The section also organised a special networking session and provided a platform to share experiences, discuss challenges, and explore new solutions for the future of the tourism industry.
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