From Akwaaba, honour comes for top 100 African women in tourism 

The organisers of AKWAABA African Travel Market formerly announced the African Travel 100 Women Awards as part of her Women in Tourism Program.

Nominations officially opened on the 12th of July for the world to nominate best female promoters of travel and tourism in Africa, the pioneers, the leaders and the stars. The women in tourism recognition will take place at the 13th AKWAABA African Travel Market at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos.

Tourism is the biggest employer of labour globally and as Africa with its large female population seeks to grow in Tourism there is a need to grow the population of women in Tourism Business.

The session, themed: ‘Women in Tourism; Challenges and the Future’ will discuss the various challenges facing women in tourism and moves towards curbing these challenges for now and the future.

According to UNCTAD reports, “an interesting fact revealed in the report, is that more than 30 percent of businesses in Africa are run by women, and 36 percent of the continent’s tourism ministers are women, the highest number in the world” globally, the proportion of women participating in tourism at decision making level is low, especially considering the high number of women working in the lower and entry levels.

Recently, the South African Tourism Minister launched a campaign to increase the proportion of women in tourism management positions to 30 percent in the next five years, as it currently stands that less than 20 percent of women in tourism business are in management positions.

“Women need to be exposed to professionals and entrepreneurs that have become a success in the industry, In order for more women to be involved, support structures need to be established, guest’s speakers shared business tips and urged women to rally behind a common goal in order to strive in the industry,” the Minister said.

In Nigeria and Ghana there have been a rising number of female operators in the tourism environment, with the rising population of women over the male population in Africa, a lot can be achieved when they come together, this session will serve as mentorship and empowerment for women in tourism to learn skills and ways to thrive in this very challenging but lucrative business of tourism. With the rising population of women over the male population in Africa, a lot can be achieved when they come together.

The Women in Tourism Conference is therefore going to deliver; mentorship, empowerment, networking and partnership within the tourism business environment. Expected participants are; Women in tourism business from all over Nigeria and various countries such as; Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Gambia, Togo, UAE, Tanzania, Liberia, Rwanda, Bahrain, Senegal, South Africa, Seychelles and Namibia.