SIMONA .+j68#0#+6ó
is a male allyship network coordinator
at Women KP|6TCXGN
“I’m 24 and from
Lithuania, and travel is a real passion for me. I did a degree in international tourism and hospitality management at Bournemouth University, including exchange programmes at universities in Macao and Italy to learn the business side of tourism. I was in my wn>l Þi>À] ÜÀiÌin} mÞ `iÃÃiÀÌ>Ìion] and wanted to learn more about solo female travellers so I emailed Alessandra Alonso, the founder of
Women in Travel. She has been a real ally to me, so I came to work with her. Women in Travel is a social enterprise that focuses on the empowerment of women and of male allies to support women in the travel industry. We organise online and in-person events so my day-to-day job involves meeting new people, telling them about the programme, matching mentors and mentees and spreading the word online. There is positive change happening in the industry, but there are still challenges. If you are looking at how to enter the in`ÕÃÌÀÞ] ÀiyiVÌ on ÞoÕÀ inÌiÀiÃÌÃ >n` strengths. You don’t have to go down the conventional path of a graduate scheme. We’re active in our allyship and mentoring programme and we’re building a whole community.”
CAROL HAY is a lecturer in business and tourism management “I travelled to the Caribbean at £n q mÞ wÀÃÌ Ìimi leaving the UK – and enjoyed it so
much I decided I wanted to work in travel. I got a job at a short-haul tour operator, then moved to Jamaica and spent 20 years in the Caribbean, ÜhiÀi Ü>à voÀÌÕn>Ìi Ìo wn` > minÌoÀ in >m>iV>½Ã wÀÃÌ vim>li `iÀiVÌoÀ ov tourism, Carrole Guntley. For any young person wanting to enter the travel and tourism industry, particularly if they are from a diverse background, I would strongly advise them to get a mentor. It’s a great opportunity to discuss your ambitions and get help to go in the right direction. I returned to the UK to be director of marketing for Antigua & Barbuda Tourism and then for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, working with more than 30 countries to learn about their culture and heritage so marketing campaigns recognised the individuality of each destination. Now I’m a lecturer and trainer with the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Travel is a fantastic industry, but there is a lack of racial diversity. The way forward is to stop talking and start working with colleges and universities to develop mentorships and apprenticeships.”
takeoffintravel.co.uk
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PICTURES: Shutterstock/designium, Vitalii Vodolazskyi, Saferizen
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