As I reflect on this year’s theme, I am particularly proud to be a part of an industry, which a World Travel and Tourism Council 2019 report states, “…has almost twice as many female employers than other sectors” and which, “…provides women with more opportunities for workforce participation, leadership, entrepreneurship and empowerment than many other sectors, particularly in developing countries.”Tourism continues to be a critical sector in the development of Barbados’ economy, and we are also proud of its track record in contributing to a more equitable and just society. We can witness daily the sterling contributions made by women across so many areas of tourism from the heart of operations such as housekeeping to our Minister of Tourism in government leadership.
