By Theckla Gunga – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Gender inclusion and women economic empowerment have been placed as top priority agendas that will be addressed during the APEC Ministers for Tourism Meeting.
In his opening remarks, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority CEO, Jerry Agus, said traditional gender issues continue to affect women’s participation in the tourism sector. The APEC Tourism Week begins today (May 28) with the “Women in Tourism Dialogue chaired by Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority.
The dialogue includes talks on opportunities women can tap into, in the tourism sector, managing tourism businesses on a digital platform and overcoming traditional gender issues. This discussion will focus on three policy priorities. They include giving women leadership roles and encouraging women participation in the tourism sector.
For Papua New Guinea, TPA has recorded an increase in women participation in the tourism sector. This is evident in East New Britain and Milne Bay provinces where women are establishing guest houses and taking up jobs as tour guides.
Under the theme “Women as prime movers of sustainable and inclusive opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future,” this meeting aims to promote women participation. The tourism ministers meeting, is being held in Port Moresby at the International Convention Centre. It will end this Friday (June 1) with a ministerial visit to the New Ireland Province.
