The Women in Tourism Regional Congress will be held at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Sierra Leone from October 29 to 31.
Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with UN Tourism, the three-day event aims to advance beyond empowerment by equipping women in tourism with requisite access and resources, actionable insights and equitable opportunities. Key priorities include enhancing mentorship, educational and training initiatives, fostering technological innovation and improving access to financial resources to facilitate women’s advancement into positions of leadership and influence.
Key speakers include Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone, and Elcia Grandcourt, Director for Africa at UN Tourism. The congress will feature panel discussions on gender-responsive policies, mentorship and digital transformation in tourism, including a technical workshop on finance access, by invitation only, aimed at improving financial literacy for women in tourism.
The event will additionally host permanent exhibitions by women from Sierra Leone, neighbouring countries and other parts of Africa. Social events will include a welcome reception on October 29 and an open-air carnival on October 31, showcasing performances by local female artists.
Women account for 70% of Africa’s tourism workforce – well above the 54% global average – yet they remain concentrated in lower-skilled, lower-paid and often informal positions, underscoring the urgent need to address systemic barriers and fully harness their potential.
Since 2007, UN Tourism has been working through its Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department – in partnership with UN Women and a range of external partners across the globe – to bring gender issues to the forefront of the tourism sector. The organisation promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment and encourages member states to mainstream gender issues in their respective tourism policies.
