Amadeus, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, and the ministry of tourism of Kenya have agreed to work together to help young people and women in underprivileged communities access employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the travel and tourism industries.

The pilot programme is scheduled for launch in Kenya before the end of 2017.

This initiative is expected to be followed up by the development of similar programmes for other emerging markets around the world.

Najib Balala, Kenya cabinet secretary for tourism, explained: “Tourism is a key backbone to the region’s economic growth, with a projected growth of 16 per cent by end of 2016.

“This initiative enables us to empower women and our youth whilst building our local tourism and travel industry.”

Amadeus will work with its customers to facilitate travel industry training to local participants.

UNWTO will provide access to UN agencies and other key partners to bring expertise on the ground to support this project.

Taleb Rifai, UNWTO secretary general, said: “Though in most regions women make up the majority of the tourism workforce, they tend to be concentrated in the lowest paid and lowest status jobs and perform a large amount of unpaid work in family tourism businesses.

“We thus need to work together to ensure women can access better jobs in tourism.”