How I Transformed Tourism Challenges Into Global Opportunities for Sustainable and Inclusive Leadership?

I didn’t set out to become a global advocate for sustainable and inclusive tourism leadership. Like many professionals entering the tourism and hospitality industry, I was drawn to its vibrancy, the opportunity to travel, and the sheer joy of connecting people across cultures.

But as I moved deeper into the sector, from MICE events to tourism development consulting, I began to notice cracks beneath the surface. Beautiful destinations struggling with overtourism. Local communities excluded from decision-making. Women forming the backbone of tourism workforces yet invisible in boardrooms.

Those realizations shaped my journey. They pushed me to ask hard questions:

• Can tourism grow without harming the environment?

• Can it empower communities rather than displace them?

• Can women lead in an industry they sustain daily?

My story is about answering those questions with action, turning challenges into global opportunities for change.

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, contributing around 10% to global GDP. Yet its rapid growth often came with hidden costs. I remember visiting rural communities where resorts expanded, but locals saw little benefit. Environmental practices were inconsistent at best, damaging at worst.

On the leadership front, the gender gap was glaring. Women filled frontline roles, housekeeping, tour operations, ticketing but decision-making spaces remained male-dominated. Mentorship opportunities were rare. Professional growth paths for women were unclear.

I personally encountered resistance when proposing sustainability initiatives early in my career. “It’s too expensive,”some said. Others viewed it as “nice to have” rather than essential.

But I also saw immense potential: sustainability could future-proof tourism, and diverse leadership could unlock innovation. The question became: how do we make this happen?

My transition from tourism practitioner to advocate didn’t happen overnight. It began when I was invited to speak at a regional tourism conference. My topic? The link between sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term competitiveness in tourism.

After my session, a young woman approached me. She said, “I want to lead one day, but I don’t see people like me at the top.”

Her words hit hard. I realized this wasn’t just about programs or policies, it was about visibility, mentorship, and opportunity.

That moment became the turning point. I decided my work would not only address environmental sustainability but also build pathways for women and underrepresented voices to lead tourism into the future.

To create systemic change, we needed more than conferences or reports. We needed platforms where ideas became action.

That’s why I co-founded World Women Tourism (WWT), a global initiative to:

• Elevate women leaders in tourism.

• Offer mentorship, training, and networking.

• Advocate for diversity and inclusion in tourism leadership.

At first, WWT began with small webinars and mentorship circles. But word spread quickly. Soon, we had participants from Asia, Europe, and Africa sharing experiences, challenges, and strategies.

We partnered with universities, tourism boards, and international organizations. Our events grew from dozens to hundreds of participants, creating a global sisterhood of tourism professionals driving change.

Beyond WWT, I launched Elevated Consultancy & Training to help governments and businesses integrate sustainability into tourism strategies, ensuring economic growth aligned with environmental responsibility and social impact.

One of my proudest contributions has been shaping sustainability practices in tourism and the MICE industry.

Singapore’s Green MICE Roadmap

I was involved in discussions supporting Singapore’s MICE Sustainability Roadmap, aiming for all purpose-built MICE venues to be certified green by 2025. This set a benchmark for Asia, proving major events can be both world-class and environmentally responsible.

Agritourism in Brunei

In Brunei, we transformed I Am Food farms into agritourism hubs. Visitors learned about sustainable farming while enjoying local cuisine, creating income for farmers and awareness about food security.

Bhutan’s Community Tourism

In Bhutan, we worked with women to develop homestays preserving culture while generating livelihoods. Visitors experienced authentic Bhutanese life, directly benefiting rural families.

These projects showed that sustainability isn’t just about conservation — it’s about community empowerment, economic resilience, and cultural preservation.

Women make up over 50% of the tourism workforce globally but hold less than 20% of leadership roles. Changing this became a personal mission.

Through WWT and partnerships with organizations like UN Women, we:

• Launched leadership training for women in tourism.

• Created mentorship networks connecting young professionals with industry veterans.

• Hosted women-led panels at major tourism conferences.

One success story that inspires me is from Southeast Asia, where a mid-level tourism officer joined our leadership program. Within three years, she rose to become Director of Sustainable Tourism at her national tourism board.

When women lead, entire communities benefit. Their decisions prioritize not just profit, but people and the planet.

Advocacy needs visibility. That’s why I’ve spoken at platforms like:

• UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Forums

• ITB Asia

• Expo Dubai

• World Women Tourism Conferences

I used these stages to showcase success stories, share frameworks, and push for policies supporting sustainability and inclusion.

One highlight was moderating a UNWTO panel on women in tourism. Hearing leaders from five continents share strategies proved this movement was truly global.

Driving change wasn’t easy.

• Some policymakers worried sustainability would slow economic growth.

• Traditionalists resisted women in leadership roles.

• Businesses hesitated to invest in green certifications or diversity programs.

I learned to counter resistance with data and dialogue.

For example, studies show companies with gender-diverse leadership outperform financially. Destinations adopting sustainable practices attract higher-spending, longer-staying visitors.

Slowly, skeptics became supporters when they saw sustainability and inclusion as competitive advantages, not costs.

Today, I’m proud of what these efforts have achieved:

• Policies: Contributions to sustainability roadmaps in Singapore, Brunei, and Bhutan.

• Leaders: Dozens of women trained and mentored into executive tourism roles.

• Communities: Agritourism and homestay projects generating income while preserving heritage.

But beyond metrics, the real legacy lies in mindset shifts, industry leaders now see sustainability and inclusivity as the future, not afterthoughts.

Looking back, here are my key lessons:

1. Collaboration is everything – Governments, businesses, and communities must work together.

2. Diversity drives innovation – Different voices bring better solutions.

3. Start small but stay consistent – Pilot projects can grow into national policies.

4. Mentorship multiplies impact – One empowered leader inspires dozens more.

For young professionals, my advice is: Don’t wait for permission to lead. Find allies, learn continuously, and take initiative.

The next decade of tourism faces big questions: How do we balance growth with climate responsibility? How do we ensure women lead at the highest levels? How do we make tourism truly inclusive?

Because tourism isn’t just about destinations. It’s about people, planet, and purpose.