Unlocking the Potential: A Journey Towards the Empowerment of Women in the South African Tourism Sector

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), female employment reduces poverty, sustains economic growth, and supports women’s empowerment and independence. This research aims to investigate the effect of Entrepreneurial skill, Competence, and Autonomy on the Empowerment of Women in the South African tourism sector. The study was quantitative and descriptive with a constructivist research approach. Primary data for this study was collected from women working in destination marketing organisations (DMOs), hospitality, business tourism, travel agencies, and tour operators across the country. The study findings indicate that women in tourism perceive themselves as having the entrepreneurial skills, competency, innovative ideas, independence, and autonomy necessary to succeed in the tourism industry, highlighting the relevance of these factors to Women in Tourism (WiT) in South Africa. This study makes a valuable contribution to understanding the potential of the Empowerment of women in the South African tourism sector. The findings of this study will assist tourism authorities and policymakers to better plan for the equal opportunity and inclusion of women in tourism across the provinces of South Africa.