Empowering women in the developing world to participate fully in economic life is critical in the creation of strong, sustainable economies and the travel and tourism industry is perhaps better positioned to create access to economic participation than any other global industry.
This is why TreadRight has recognized the need to ensure that empowering women is a central part of our People pillar. We believe that, as a travel organization, we have a responsibility to foster and support opportunities for economic empowerment for women. Artisan work represents one of the few tangible opportunities many women in developing countries have to participate in the economy so supporting artisans in the places we visit is an important step in helping to reduce poverty, champion gender equality, and promote productive employment.
By working thoughtfully and diligently to create, develop, and encourage these opportunities around the world, we aren’t simply showing travellers the world, we’re also helping to bring the world economy to those places we explore.
Recently, TreadRight Ambassador Céline Cousteau led a team of influential storytellers on a trip to Jordan to visit the Iraq al-Amir Women’s Cooperative to help share the story of the cooperative and the women who make this special place what it is. This past November, TreadRight and TTC released a video from their journey.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate these women and the countless others around the world who have turned to their heritage arts – passed down from grandmothers and mothers to granddaughters and daughters across the generations – in order to raise themselves, their families and their communities up.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the individuals pouring their hearts and souls into creating the space and opportunities for these connections to take place.
And this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the travellers who understand the important role they play in patronizing local artisans when they travel.
Together, we can all make travel matter for women everywhere.
