International Conference tourism development respecting gender equality has ended
For two days, at the international conference, held many interesting presentations and special guests. These have had participants of the international conference entitled “Tourism development in a democratic society respecting gender equality.” At the conference, discussed tourism development in Moldova, the role of women in society, in terms of gender equality, women’s involvement in business.
The guests from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Poland, Ukraine, Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina met in Chisinau to share successful practice in their countries of origin with women from Moldova. According to organizers, the Association of Business and Professional Women of Moldova, the purpose of the conference was to establish relationships, exchange of experience and good practice.
The event was atented by the Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family – Valentina Buliga, who said that Moldovan women should participate more often in such events to remove some stereotypes that assume that only men can be involved in politics and in business.
“Gender is an important pillar in the development of a state. Regarding higher education, the share of women is very high, we have areas where women prevail, such as in education or medicine. Instead we have arrears in salaries, pensions, women’s involvement in business than men. We must move forward, understanding that where women are concerned, we have a high level of social responsibility, less corruption, welfare. These elements motivate Moldovan women to engage in economic fields, namely tourism. We can build a good model of complicity. Statistics show that more women are involved in tourism. We hope that women will have more chances to leadership positions. Women should aim for participation “.
A large and interesting presentation was from the Tourism Agency of the Republic of Moldova Mr. Victor Ciobanu, Head of the analysis, monitoring and evaluation. Presentation theme was “Tourism development in Moldova: relationships and perspectives” that were covered in the main tourist activity indicators RM 2012, positive trends in tourism development in the country, and priorities in tourism development strategy in project “Tourism in 2020 “and maximize the opportunities for attracting investment in tourism.
For the first time in Moldova held flash mob dedicated to equal pay between women and men. Each participant had a bag with the logo “Equal Pay Day”. Group initiative and the conference organizers plan to go out with an approach to management that the Republic of Moldova in line with other European countries to be established in Moldova day equal pay between women and men (EQUAL PAY DAY).
The event was implemented due to financial support of the European Centre Initiative, Balkan Association of Small and Medium Gender Task Force, Professional and Business Women’s Association of Moldova.
“Tourism development in a democratic society respecting gender equality” (2013)
In Republic of Moldova more and more women are developing business tourism, namely the focus on rural tourism, where traditions and cultural values are preserved. Hospitality of the people and attachment to traditions can create interesting tourist destinations.
Thus, tourism is an important sector contributing to economic growth, social change, privatization and infrastructure development. In addition, an attractive opportunity for women could combine work with family responsibilities, this will reduce the unemployment and the migration. And here we want to make a remark regarding the massive immigration of people and especially women, who abandon their houses and families, and leave for abroad. Even if they find work, money, they get depressed because the work they find is not at all connected with the profession they were trained for, their jobs are illegal, and the most painful thing is the fact that they are far away from those they love. The results of research confirm that among rural women 47 % of respondents are convinced that it is possible to ensure material prosperity of family only by going to work abroad. According to submitted statistics, from the financial point of view only 0.7% of women are prosperous. Only 18% of respondents estimate their position in society as prestigious, and 53 % determine it as not prestigious or less prestigious. 70% from business women have higher education.
Therefore, we plan to organize an activities at which women from different countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine) will tell stories of success or failure, will exchange information including women from Moldova, as will be outlined common problems and propose ways and means solving them.