Movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, as well as callouts for LGBTQI* inclusion and recent pushes for workplace diversity, have put issues such as racism and discrimination high on the agenda for companies. By responding to these issues, businesses can not only protect their reputation and secure their growth (even in times of a shortage of skilled workers) but also strengthen their sustainability and resilience.
While media headlines were flooded with protests for social justice, and tourism was brought to a halt for months, statements of solidarity and public commitments were easy to make. But how can tourism businesses bridge the gap to actually taking action and driving real change?
Analysing potential risks and consequences related to diversity and inclusion needs more than a public statement and can be challenging, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. So how to proceed and where to start?
To assist businesses, the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism has expanded its Get Started Tool by integrating numerous examples of actual cases and adding new resources on the topics of racism, gender equality, workplace diversity, LGBTQI* inclusivity, and accessibility.
The «Get Started Tool» is a free online tool designed for small and medium-sized outbound tour operators and tourism companies to identify business-related human rights risks along the value chain. Moreover, the practice-oriented tool provides further resources, guidance and recommendations on concrete actions to take in order to address these risks.
It now also provides guidance in …
- analysing the human rights risks related to diversity and inclusion,
- addressing the many faces of racism and unconscious bias in tourism,
- being culturally sensitive and offering tourism services that support and encourage social and cultural diversity,
- supporting gender equality,
- removing barriers for persons with disabilities and advancing accessibility,
- supporting an inclusive work environment and travel experience for all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or age.
The Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism is a non-profit association and international multi-stakeholder initiative promoting the implementation of human rights due diligence by tourism companies. Contributions and input are highly appreciated to keep the tool alive and up-to-date with relevant data and sources. Please contact the Roundtable via info@humanrights-in-tourism.net
In recent months, the Roundtable also offered several webinars. You can find the recordings here:
Encounters at Eye Level – Tackling Racism in the Tourism Value Chain (December 10, 2020)
A Human Rights Narrative – Additional Value for your Company, Suppliers and Customers (February 23, 2021)
Connecting the Dots: Identifying Human Rights References in the SDGs and the Links with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (April 28, 2021)
The Suit in the Bag, Due Diligence at Home? Organising Business Travel that Respects Human Rights (June 15, 2021)
Respecting Human Rights in the Tourism Value Chain – Tools and Offers to Get Started (August 17.2021)
Turning Drops into Ripples – How a Living Wage Contributes to Human Rights Due Diligence (November 30, 2021)
Chiara Kadelka studies Sustainable Tourism Management at the University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde. For the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism, she revised the Get Started Tool during her internship and added the topics of diversity and inclusion.
