The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement on Tuesday that it attended the 2nd Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific in Bali earlier this month.
Held from May 2 to 4, the event was organised by UN Tourism and is one of its major events in the Asia-Pacific Region, focusing on various challenges and opportunities faced by women in the tourism industry across the region, according to the statement.
The statement said that MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and several other MGTO officials took part in the conference and familiarisation tour. The event’s programme was mainly held on the first two days and included a roundtable discussion and regional seminar. Topics on the agenda included women in tourism industry leadership and accessible travel opportunities for women.
Senna Fernandes was also invited to talk at a panel discussion entitled “Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism: Discussing women’s roles in promoting sustainable tourism”, the statement added.
Over half of Macau’s tourism and related sectors’ workforce is currently occupied by female professionals, while more than 50 percent of visitors are women, the statement underlined. Senna Fernandes noted in her remarks that MGTO’s marketing team mainly comprises females, and that many female leaders are making a considerable impact in both the local public and private sectors.
She pointed out that both women and men are making valuable contributions towards tourism development, but more challenges still exist. She noted that, for example, Macau’s tourism sector lost a significant number of its workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, the industry demands the return of human resources to be back on track for recovery, Senna Fernandes said. However, she added, some women also carry the responsibility of caring for their family and may not be able to take up their former positions immediately. Overall, she said, Macau’s tourism sector is an attractive industry regardless of gender.
Macau has been an Associate Member of UN Tourism (formerly known as the World Tourism Organisation) since 1981. UN Tourism is headquartered in Madrid.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) on Tuesday shows MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes speaking during the 2nd Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific in Bali.
