"We have to promote the role of women in tourism. Almost all decisions on tourism are determined by women," Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno noted here on Friday.
The ministry pays special attention to the issues of women, who often experience difference in work treatment in the tourism and creative economy sectors, he noted.
The number of women, who lost their jobs in the tourism sector during the COVID-19 pandemic was almost twice as high as that of men.
Moreover, an income gap, reaching almost 13 percent, exists between women and men for similar types of work.
This gap should be reduced, given that women play an important role, especially in preserving the environment. Women have become the backbone of the tourism and creative economy sectors and the keepers of cultural inheritance, Uno remarked.
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Globally, women constitute some 54 percent of the workforce in the tourism and creative economy sectors. In Indonesia, the number of women working in that field had reached 55 percent.
To this end, the ministry prioritizes the issues faced by women as the main matter that will be encouraged to be addressed by G20 member countries.
The minister brought attention to this issue during the G20 W20 Summit recently held in Lake Toba, North Sumatra.
To support women in the sector, the ministry focuses on conducting women's empowerment.
Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Board (BPOLBF) President Director Shana Fatina noted that women's empowerment focuses on actions to empower and promote women's role in the local community as policy or business leaders and innovators.
In addition, the role of education and skills is very important to realize women's complete participation for the sake of the local community's resiliency and future.
The BPOLBK conducts collaboration with women groups, such as weaving, culinary arts, craft, and tourist village groups, including in the Flores Writers Festival and Flores Singing Island activities.
Thus far, women played a dominant role in micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs).
While the number of women and men workers is equal in hotels and restaurants, the number of women working in tourism agencies as operators is still low.
To this end, the BPOLBF has designed a special assistance route for women this year that will provide them training and access to marketing and knowledge.
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Translator: Fransiska M N, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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