Women's participation in hospitality and tourism sector of the country is still far below what it is in many other countries, which is, according to experts, one of the main impediments to the sector's growth.
They, have, however, singled out social and religious stigma, lack of awareness regarding hospitality and tourism profession, absence of skill development facilities and entrepreneurship in the sector as the major barriers to women's involvement in tourism sector.
Besides, attitude of males, mindset of parents and poor promotion of tourism sector by the government have also been held responsible for low participation rate of women in the sector.
Although there is not official data on the rate of women's participation in hospitality and tourism sector in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries, experts say the rate of female participation is 30 per cent in Sri Lanka, India 20 per cent, Thailand 30 per cent and Nepal and Bhutan 15 per cent.
Although international practice is to employ more women in the service sector like travel agency, tourist guide, housekeeping, restaurant and kitchen, Bangladeshi women are still limited in white collar jobs like front office operation, supervision or management.
Tourism contributes 5.0 per cent of the world's GDP, 7.0 per cent of jobs worldwide and accounts for 6.0 per cent of the world's exports and 30 per cent of exports in services.
In developing countries, tourism generates 45 per cent of the total exports in services (UNWTO data).
Ajiyer Fair Trade Tourism Managing Director Shahid Hussain Shamim said in Bangladesh, the rate of women in tour operation is less than one per cent although the rate is 15 to 20 per cent in hotel and restaurant operation. But they face a lot of problems like sexual and professional harassment in these professions. Moreover, women are reluctant to join hospitality and tourism industry due to social stigma and self-censorship.
"I want more women for my company but I do not find many. At present, women occupy major positions in kitchen and housekeeping but my tourist guide is a male," said Mr Shamim.
He suggested more training, motivation for women and change in the attitude and behaviour of men to welcome women in service sectors like hospitality and tourism industry.
TVET Reform Project Component 4 Adviser of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Francis De Silva said women are usually reluctant to join hotels except for front office jobs or supervisors or managerial positions. But internationally, women are engaged in housekeeping, restaurant services and in kitchen.
"In Bangladesh, parents do not like their female children to work in hotels, which is different in other countries," he added.
Mr Silva, who has been working for promotion and skill development for tourism sector over the last couple of years in Bangladesh, suggested crossing of the barriers to invite women to hospitality and tourism sector.
"In Sri Lanka, the situation was the same like Bangladesh 30 years back when only 5.0 per cent women were involved in tourism sector. Now the rate of women's participation is about 30 per cent," he said. He felt social marketing and campaigning are needed targeting parents and females to attract women in various jobs alongside awareness building about the benefit of joining hospitality and tourism industry.
Journey Plus chief executive Taufiq Rahman said women's participation in tourism sector has not reached the level at which the country's overall tourism has developed after 43 years of independence.
Data shows in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, more than half of tourism businesses is run by women while in Pakistan, Iran, and the Maldives there is virtually none. This demonstrates that tourism has a strong potential for promoting women's own businesses.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) chief executive officer Akhteruzzaman Khan Kabir told the FE that women are the main strength of rural life where there is a strong potential for development of community tourism.
"Our main strength of tourism is village life, folk culture and people. Women are the main elements of rural life as they represent our folk culture and hospitality to the tourists," he said.
Referring to neighbouring countries, he said women's participation is greater in those countries which have developed tourism. China, Vietnam and Cambodia have developed tourism industry as small and medium sector, he added.
"Bangladesh has the scope to develop tourism as SME sector. If we can increase women's involvement, our tourism industry will be richer," Mr Kabir added.
