How Your Travel Choices Can Help Women Thrive Around the World
Wild Women Expeditions
Throughout Women’s History Month, at GLP we are joining in the celebration by honoring the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. March 8 was International Women’s Day, an annual event that marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and improving the lives of women around the world. Everyone can do their part in helping achieve gender equality, however, the travel industry has a big role to play as well.
Travel and tourism generates one in every 10 jobs globally. In 2022, the Travel and Tourism sector contributed 7.6% to global GDP, an increase of 22% from 2021, with 22 million new jobs in the tourism sector (per the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Furthermore, as of 2019, 54% of those employed in the sector were women (compared to just 39% in the broader economy per the UNWTO's Global Report on Women in Tourism) and this is growing. From 2010 to 2019, women employed in travel and tourism grew from 38.6 million to 47.8 million, an increase of 24 percent. This is terrific news for women.
One area that can certainly help improve women’s lives is sustainable employment and as the travel industry continues to grow around the world, there is a great opportunity for women to increase their livelihoods through sustainable tourism.
As travelers, we too can have an impact and help women around the world thrive. We can use our travel choices and purchasing power to help enhance gender equality around the world and provide more women with sustainable employment through the travel industry. Travelers can support women’s jobs in the global hospitality industry by choosing women-led travel outfitters, employing female guides, supporting women-owned businesses and local non-profits in the places they visit.
Check out these tips on how you as a traveler can use your purchasing power to make a difference in women’s lives.
SEEK OUT FEMALE TOUR GUIDES
It comes as no surprise that finding a female tour guide can often be somewhat daunting especially in countries where women’s lives are often defined by male-dominated societal norms. In my past three decades of travel I probably only had a dozen or so female tour guides and not a single female tour guide on any of the multi-day treks that I’ve done. However, this is changing especially thanks to travel companies such as B-Corp certified Intrepid Travel who have been offering tours on every continent on the planet for over 30 years.
“We have a history of championing gender equality and inclusiveness – through our business, with our people, on our trips and via our not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation” says Matt Berna, President of the Americas at Intrepid Travel.
As of 2023, Intrepid has 275 female tour leaders and crew, which equates to 30% of their tour leaders. “In parts of the world where societal norms mean tourism is mostly male-dominated, like Morocco and India, we’re supporting local women who want a career in the travel industry and have doubled the number of women leading our trips in recent years” says Berna. Women like Ernestina Valeriano , one of Peru’s first trekking guides and the all women porter team in Nepal are breaking down barriers and traditional gender roles.
Intrepid also operates a range of women-only expeditions, which are a collection of tours led entirely by female leaders that aim to break down barriers for female travelers, debunk misconceptions about gender norms and celebrate the similarities and differences of women around the globe. “These trips are designed for female travelers and guided by amazing women all over the world. The trips allow travelers to interact and engage with a range of amazing local women – young, old, religious, conservative, traditional and modern, from the country and the city – while respecting local values” says Berna. Stay tuned as new destinations are slated for launch in 2024.
Wild Women Expeditions, a global leader in women’s adventure travel for over 33 years, is another excellent choice when it comes to empowering women guides. A global leader in women's group adventure travel, this women-owned and led business offers numerous international itineraries in the women-only sector and the demand for their trips is skyrocketing. “Sharing a passion for the outdoors, a sense of adventure, and a drive for more kindness in the world, Wild Women Expeditions prides itself on leading inclusive group tours that prioritize sustainability, conservation, and social responsibility wherever wild women can be found.We vigorously support organizations that fight for the health, safety, equality, dignity, and empowerment of women across the globe,” says Jennifer Haddow, CEO of Wild Women Expeditions.
CHOOSE TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR COMPANIES RUN BY WOMEN
Nowadays, there are tons of fantastic travel agencies and tour companies run by women such as Wild Women Expeditions, AdventureWomen, Adventures in Good Company and more.
JourneyWoman, the world’s largest and most trusted resource for women solo travelers over 50 has an incredible network of women-led travel companies and tour offerings exclusively for women.
“JourneyWoman has always been a place for women to feel safe and welcome. Part of the magic of JourneyWoman is that everything we recommend or write about is through first-hand experiences” shares Carolyn Ray, CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman.
JourneyWoman’s Women’s Travel Directory features women-owned small businesses from around the world who need your support, and they also provide a resource on women-friendly accommodations including woman-owned, Indigenous-owned or Black-owned hotel, homestay or apartments.
WORK WITH TOUR COMPANIES THAT HAVE A NON-PROFIT ARM THAT SUPPORTS WOMEN
As the travel industry becomes more conscious about the impact that travel has on the planet (people, place and prosperity), more travel companies have developed ways to become more responsible, sustainable players. Big travel companies such as Intrepid and G Adventures have worked tirelessly to ensure that the local communities they work with benefit through their tours.
Intrepid Travel’s approach to gender equality is further deepened in the communities they support through The Intrepid Foundation. Recently Intrepid introduced visits to a number of their Foundation Partners as part of their itineraries, such as with the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit the Black Mambas, who Intrepid travelers get a chance to meet during a special bush walk and overnight stay on select Kruger National Park trips.
Planeterra, a partner of G Adventures, is the world’s leading NGO that works to turn travel into impact in communities. Their programs help local organizations and communities use tourism as a catalyst to improve people’s lives, protect their natural environments, and celebrate their culture. One area they are particularly passionate about is to help empower women through tourism.
"Women make up over half of the tourism workforce, yet they often face barriers to advancement and fair compensation. At Planeterra, we believe in rewriting this narrative. By providing access to education and job training, we empower women to redefine their roles in society and unlock their full potential. Through partnerships with women-led initiatives and community tourism enterprises prioritizing female empowerment, we ensure that travel's impact remains positive, uplifting communities worldwide. Our commitment to uplifting women isn't just important—it's essential. When women thrive, communities prosper, and the tourism industry becomes a catalyst for meaningful change." - Jamie Sweeting, President of Planeterra
EDUCATE YOURSELF ON WOMEN’S ISSUES AND TOURISM
Another way to help women thrive around the world is to educate yourself on some of the issues women face in the places that you travel to. RISE Travel Institute is a nonprofit organization with the mission to create a more just and equitable world through travel education. Founded by Vincie Ho, RISE works to educate travelers, tourism professionals and college students about critical issues regarding responsible, impactful, sustainable and ethical travel through their online courses and their Flagship Certificate program. “Our social justice courses underscore the importance of understanding intersectionality and redressing power imbalances that oppress minoritized identities including women,” says Vincie Ho. As travelers, it is important to be mindful of some of the challenges women around the world face in their daily lives, especially in patriarchal societies. Travelers can learn more about women’s equality and challenges by checking out some of these organizations: UN Women, Women’s Earth Alliance, Fos Feminista or check out this curated list of 25 organizations fighting for women’s equality
JOIN AND SUPPORT FEMALE TRAVEL COMMUNITIES ONLINE
Another great way to support women in travel is to join female travel communities online. Thankfully there are tons out there and most provide a global community of women who love to travel and share their tips. As already mentioned before, JourneyWomen is a great resource for women travelers, especially those over 50.
As JourneyWoman celebrates their 30th anniversary, “our role has become one of advocacy too – representing the diverse voices of women over 50, accessible solo travel, multi-generational travel (women teaching grandchildren and children about travel) and of course, sustainable ways to travel” shares Carolyn Ray.
Wanderful is another excellent community of thousands of travelers and content creators redefining travel for women worldwide. Wanderful has annual conferences, travel opportunities, meet up groups and other events around the world.
Unearth Women is an online media outlet where feminism meets travel. Check out their list of over 40 Feminist Guides that give tips on how you can support women in cities around the world.