World tourism day script womenâ??s achievements

SEP 28: The 2007 World Tourism Day as the United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) celebrated on Thursday world wide with the theme “Tourism opens doors for women” marks women’s achievements.

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This time the host country Sri Lanka got the opportunity to showcase its beauty, grandeur and vibrant cultural heritage by giving a convivial to all members of representative from all 150 member countries.

The purpose of Sep 27 is to aware international community of the role of tourism and developing social, political, cultural and economic values in uniting world as a whole. As per the report of UN World Tourism, in the year 2006 South Asia has emerged as a tourist destination with an increasing growth of 10 per cent. But it is India which attracts half of the overall tourists; so it is important for other South Asian countries encouraging impression for inbound tourists.

This year’s tourism day theme signifies women’s achievements in tourism sector and is also a part of UN effort of promoting gender equality and women empowerment. In tourism, women occupy almost all top posts from ministry, management, and small enterprise owner to artisans. But as far as India, Sri Lanka or any other small or developing countries in South Asia region is concerned, the percentage of women work force is still very marginal.

As tourism is one of the important part economic development governments of developing countries did realize its value in terms of foreign exchange earning and also from the point of view of socio-cultural changes. So now it is a way to preserve our natural and socio-cultural values for commercial purpose. But an over all human development is only possible with the empowerment of women.

Development of women by giving employment in tourism sector is certainly a positive change in economy and social structure by maintaining a right balance. However, it is up to the general policy makers of all developing countries to prepare framework addressing women’s economic empowerment. Not only should this be in the tourism industry, but also in various levels of government, business and civil society.

On this occasion UNWTO also viewed the need of the participation of private sector, non-government organisations (NGOs), media and also government by bringing legislation for equal opportunity with better working condition. Private sectors on the other hand can come out with different career development programmes for women particularly in this industry. As tourism constitute a number of small and associated divisions like agro tourism, ecotourism, medical tourism and other creative works, it is obvious that there is huge prospect of women’s development in tourism. But that needs a strong defined programme and action plan.