FACTORS INFLUENCING WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT IN TOURISM IN RELATION TO GENDER STEREOTYPES IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

Employment in the tourism sector serves as a critical indicator of both economic performance and the broader social structure of countries, particularly in relation to gender equality. As a service-dominated industry, tourism employs a disproportionately high share of women, positioning it as a strategic domain for examining gendered labor market dynamics. According to UNWTO (2019), women comprise 54% of the global tourism workforce, compared to only 39% in the overall economy. This study draws on Eurostat data to evaluate the determinants of women’s employment in the tourism sector. A comprehensive diagnostic analysis of data distribution was conducted prior to model specification, applying the Shapiro–Wilk W test and complementary visual techniques such as histograms and Q-Q plots. Descriptive evidence highlights that women are primarily concentrated in accommodation, food services, customer-facing roles, and part-time positions – patterns shaped by persistent social norms and gendered occupational segregation. Through the application of advanced statistical modelling supported by visual analytics (bar charts, heatmaps, and 3D regression surfaces), the study assesses the significance and explanatory power of selected structural and socio-economic factors. The findings underscore tourism’s potential to act as a catalyst for regional development and a mechanism for strengthening gender equality, particularly in areas with untapped economic capacity. The results offer actionable insights for policymakers: integrating tourism development into broader employment and gender-equality strategies may enhance labor market participation among women, especially outside major economic centers. This study thus contributes to the growing body of evidence positioning tourism as a transformative sector within inclusive economic development frameworks.