Participants in the forum, organized by FITUR together with Women Leading Tourism, say that for tourism growth to be sustainable and competitive, it must also be inclusive. One in three new jobs created worldwide in the coming years will be linked to tourism, a sector in which women make up 54% of the workforce.

In celebration of International Women’s Day this month, we shine a spotlight on female leaders in the hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia. With Vision 2030 as a driving force, the Kingdom has unlocked unprecedented opportunities for women to lead, innovate, and shape the future of tourism and hospitality. Yet, real progress means going beyond symbolic gestures - it’s about creating lasting pathways for growth, mentorship, and leadership. We spoke with female hospitality professionals in Saudi Arabia about breaking barriers and driving change in the industry, and their advice for the next generation of female leaders.

Leading social enterprise Women in Travel CIC has welcomed Beth Alcorn as its new Male Allyship Network community manager and programme co-ordinator

An analysis of CEOs of the top companies and most visible individuals in the B2B travel technology space has shown that only 15.6% of these are female. This research was carried out in July by B2B travel tech public relations agency Belvera Partners, basing the companies and individuals selected on its Belvera B2B Travel Tech Map as the universe for the study and using LinkedIn profiles to establish gender.

Women in Travel CIC has announced that Darrell Wade and Zina Bencheikh of Intrepid Travel will speak together at IWTTF 2024 in London in June.

FHS Saudi Arabia, taking place in Riyadh from 29 April to 1 May, has a strong female focus this year, reflecting the rise of women in the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism industries, and encouraging more to embark on a career in the sector.