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Tourism

Developing a tourism industry that is good for workers, the economy and the planet.

Tourism is a major driver of the global economy. Prior to the pandemic it accounted for approximately 10% of global GDP and 25% of all new jobs. As the largest subsector – accounting for 40% of the industry’s footprint – transport has a significant role to play in shaping a sustainable tourism future. 


As the tourism industry recovers from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, sustainability, health and safety, transition to formal jobs and digitisation are at the forefront of issues for transport workers.

 

ISSUES

80% of workers in the tourism industry are employed by micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs). Jobs are characterised by a high level of precarity, lack of access to collective bargaining, inadequate health and safety protection, informal employment arrangements and exploitative working conditions. 

Despite the high density of MSMEs in the sector, the tourism industry is driven by large multinational corporations that drive the industry. While not directly employed by them, tourism workers’ terms and conditions are influenced by the decision making of these corporations. Ensuring accountability at the top will raise standards for tourism workers everywhere.

OUR PRIORITIES

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WHAT WE DO

Our work in the tourism sector is focussed on increasing access to union representation and raising employment standards for transport workers in the tourism industry. We do this by:

  • Building affiliate capacity to organise, represent and collectively bargain
  • Leveraging industrial relationships and partnerships in transport
  • Establishing human rights due diligence models
  • Working with other global union federations
WHERE WE FOCUS

The ITF’s work in the tourism industry focuses on supporting a sustainable, safe and resilient recovery of the industry by:

  • Increasing workers’ voices in the transformation to a sustainable tourism industry
  • Increasing workers’ access to trade unions and collective bargaining
  • Ensuring corporate accountability for workers’ in their entire value chain, rather than just their directly employed workers
  • Eradicating human trafficking
  • Protecting worker health and safety
ON THE GROUND
On the ground
The latest news on the issues affecting us all, and the actions we’re taking to improve our workers' lives and futures.
TRANSPORT CONNECTS US
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OUR PEOPLE

We bring together union leaders from across the industry to represent the interests of all transport workers. 

 

Contact us

 

SECTION SECRETARY

Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez

 

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

Rhea Chatterjee

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SECTION COMMITTEE

Dane David Massiah

ABWU
,
Antigua & Barbuda
Chair

Maria Carmen del Donate

FeSMC-UGT
,
Spain
Co Chair

Asuka Shimizu

Japan
Service Rengo

Vacant

Praveena Singh

AIRF
,
India
Tourism Services

Nedezhda Staneva

FTTUB
,
Bulgaria
Young Transport Workers’ Representative
ORDINARY MEMBERS

Faissal Ait Ali Oumansour

UMT
,
Morocco

Luis Machuango Macuacua

SINTIHOTS
,
Mozambique
Ordinary Members

Vacant

Destilia Henry

SLSWGWTU
,
St Lucia
OUR AFFILIATES

The ITF’s tourism section brings together trade unions that represent transport workers who work primarily in the tourism industry.