The photo has been used for illustrtive purposes.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

In its effort to empower women in travel and tourism sector, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has completed the training of first batch of candidates, which was held from July 7-11. Training for the second batch of interested candidates will be conducted from Oct.13-17.

The training is conducted as part of the women’s empowerment initiative the SCTDA had announced in conjunction with NAMA Women Advancement Establishment during Women Economic Empowerment Global Summit (WEEGS) 2017 which was held in Sharjah.

Through creating a learning programme that advocates for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment as per Goal #5 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, SCTDA aims to contribute to the UAE’s efforts towards driving women’s empowerment.

SCTDA’s women empowerment initiative combines tourism training and promotion of equality through community initiatives. By equipping more women with the skills and knowledge needed to address the demands of the sector, the initiative will prepare them to take on challenging roles in tourism and the travel and hospitality industry. Furthermore, the programme is set to have a wider impact and social reach to resonate with the UN-Women Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

SCTDA Chairman Khalid Jasim Al Midfa said, “At SCTDA, we consider investment in the empowerment of women as one of the priorities that has the potential to accelerate sustainable development. Our partnership with Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Summit, which serves as a catalyst for positive change, adds further value to our efforts in this direction.” “I am optimistic that the positive impact of these efforts will become apparent soon, as the initiative is set to prepare Emirati women to take on significant roles that drive progress within our society,” he said. As part of the initiative, SCTDA has set two main objectives including the promotion of education, training and professional development for women.