Review of the Draft Pacific Gender and Inclusive Tourism Action Plan (2026–2030)

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in partnership with the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) and supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), co-hosted the Gender and Inclusive Tourism Webinar—marking a key milestone in advancing equity across the region’s tourism industry.

Recent gender audits across seven National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and SPTOs highlight both progress and persistent structural gaps. Women comprise over half of the workforce in accommodation and food services, yet remain concentrated in lower-paid roles. In the private sector, just 21% of board members are women. By contrast, NTOs are setting a benchmark, with women holding 50% of leadership positions. Critically, all nine organisations reported little to no dedicated budget for gender-focused initiatives—exposing a clear disconnect between leadership representation and institutional support.

SPTO CEO Christopher Cocker emphasised the urgency of translating evidence into action: “Tourism is the backbone of our Pacific economies and communities. Women are central to this workforce, yet their contributions remain undervalued. The gender audit provides the evidence we need to act. A resilient and inclusive tourism sector requires gender equality to be embedded across policy, budgeting, and organisational culture.”

The webinar also introduced the SPTO Gender and Inclusive Tourism Action Plan (GITAP) 2026–2030—a practical, regionally owned roadmap anchored on four pillars: data monitoring and advocacy; policy and planning for inclusive tourism; women’s economic empowerment and private sector engagement; and institutional commitments in HR and organisational culture. Participants provided early feedback to ensure the plan reflects national contexts and diverse perspectives.

Aligned with Goal 2 of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework—Thriving and Inclusive Communities—this initiative positions gender equality as a core driver of sustainable tourism development. The audit process has established a robust regional evidence base, supported by a synthesis report, gender audits, a draft action plan, and a gender mainstreaming toolkit—now handed over to SPTO and NTOs to guide implementation.

SPTO acknowledged the contributions of ADB and PSDI’s Sara Currie, Alcinda Trawen, and Belinda Lucas in advancing the Draft Action Plan. Their work, alongside PSDI’s technical leadership, strengthens the region’s capacity to move from insight to impact—toward a tourism sector that is not only economically vital, but equitable by design. This will be further discussed at a workshop for the SPTO Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday 6th May.