Turismo de Portugal and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) have launched the Guide to Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tourism, a strategic tool designed to support businesses and professionals in building a more inclusive, sustainable and competitive sector.
The presentation took place today at the InterContinental Lisbon Hotel and was attended by Pedro Machado, Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services; Carla Rodrigues, Deputy Secretary for Youth and Equality; Carlos Abade, President of Turismo de Portugal; and Carina Quaresma, President of the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, amongst other dignitaries.
// A practical approach and support for the implementation of concrete measures
With a practical, action-oriented approach, the document provides guidance and best practices to enable organisations to integrate the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into their operations, from people management to customer communication.
Key objectives of the guide include promoting understanding of these issues within the tourism sector, supporting the implementation of concrete measures, and empowering professionals to create more inclusive environments that respect diversity.
The guide forms part of Turismo de Portugal’s strategy to promote a model of tourism development based on sustainability, social responsibility and valuing people, reinforcing the commitment to equality and non-discrimination in the sector. In this context, diversity and inclusion are key factors in the quality of the tourist experience, innovation and the competitiveness of businesses.
// An intrinsically diverse sector
Diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental principles for the sustainable development of tourism, an activity that relies on interaction between people of different backgrounds, cultures, identities and needs — both in relations with visitors and in the internal dynamics between teams, suppliers and other stakeholders.
As a sector playing a central role in the economy and society, tourism benefits from the promotion of more inclusive and equitable environments, contributing to the improvement of the visitor experience, the enhancement of services, the strengthening of social impact and the added value of organisations.
