ABWU General Secretary Chairs Global Tourism Conference in London, Landmark Report on Women in Tourism Transportation Launched

The Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union has reinforced its position at the centre of the global tourism labour movement, with General Secretary David Massiah chairing the International Transport Workers' Federation Tourism Services Section Conference in London — a gathering that produced a landmark report on women in tourism and a direct challenge to governments and industry leaders who profit from tourism while leaving the workers who power it behind.

A Challenge from the Chair

Opening the two-day conference on June 23, Massiah — who serves as Chair of the ITF Tourism Services Section — set the tone with a message that will resonate across every tourism-dependent economy in the Caribbean and beyond.

"Too often, those same workers are the ones facing the greatest insecurity, informal work, low wages, unsustainable working conditions, and increasing pressure from changing business models," he said, calling on governments and industry leaders to ensure that the rapid expansion of global tourism delivers tangible benefits to the workforce that makes it possible.

Landmark Report on Women in Tourism

A major highlight of the conference was the launch of the ITF–UN Tourism Global Report on Women in Tourism Transportation — the first comprehensive international study examining the role of women across the air, road, rail, and maritime passenger transport sectors that service the global tourism industry.

The report identifies significant barriers facing women workers, including disparities in recruitment, pay, career progression, and access to leadership opportunities. An accompanying action plan urges governments, employers, and trade unions to adopt gender-responsive legislation, strengthen workplace protections, improve health and safety standards, and expand access to education, training, and career advancement for women employed throughout the tourism transport industry.

The Future of Tourism Under Discussion

Beyond gender equity, the conference examined the future of tourism through discussions on strengthening Environmental, Social and Governance standards, expanding union membership, promoting safer tourism destinations, and ensuring a just transition toward more sustainable tourism practices.

Delegates engaged directly with representatives from UN Tourism, the University of Surrey, the World Travel and Tourism Council, and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance during a dedicated Tourism Industry Forum — putting trade union perspectives in the same room as the institutions shaping global tourism policy.

"No One Group Alone"

Massiah used his closing address to underscore the necessity of cross-sector collaboration. "The future of tourism cannot be shaped by any one group alone. Governments set the framework. Industry drives investment and innovation. Workers deliver the service and the experience," he said, adding that meaningful partnerships are essential to ensuring tourism continues to generate economic growth while delivering fair employment and social progress — particularly in tourism-dependent regions such as the Caribbean.

From London to Madrid

Following the conference, Massiah visited UN Tourism Headquarters in Madrid, Spain, where discussions continued on strengthening cooperation between international tourism institutions and the global labour movement — extending the ABWU's engagement beyond the conference room and into the offices where long-term tourism policy is shaped.

ABWU Shop Steward Briann Russell also attended the London conference as part of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation.

For a small island nation whose economy is built on tourism, having its workers' union general secretary chairing the global body that represents tourism workers worldwide is a position of influence that carries direct and practical significance — ensuring that the concerns of Caribbean hotel workers, ground handlers, transport operators, and hospitality staff are heard at the highest levels of the international conversation about where the industry is headed and who benefits from its growth.