• Top 50 ranking highlights women across core tourism service segments

• Tourism contributes $168 billion to GDP and supports over 24 million jobs

• Women concentrated in service and SME segments within the value chain

Hospitality Awards Africa has released its 2026 list of the Top 50 Women in Hospitality and Tourism Industry in Africa, highlighting their role across key segments of the sector’s value chains, particularly in services, small business operations and customer-facing activities.

The list includes professionals such as Funke Olusoga-Ogunlade, Dzifa Amelorku, Selassie Atadika and Lady Dentaa Amoateng. Their work spans hotel operations, culinary services, tourism promotion and enterprise development.

Tourism remains a major economic sector on the continent. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, it contributed about $168 billion to Africa’s GDP and supported more than 24 million jobs, underlining its role in employment, foreign exchange earnings and service-sector growth.

Many of the women recognized operate in accommodation, food systems and tourism experiences—segments that drive a large share of visitor spending. Food and beverage services, hospitality operations and local tourism activities are closely linked to agriculture, retail and transport.

In accommodation, hotel development continues to expand across major African cities. Discussions at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2026 point to ongoing investment in new hotels, conference facilities and mixed-use tourism projects, driven by business travel, urbanization and regional tourism flows.

A significant share of tourism activity is carried by small and medium-sized enterprises. Many of the women listed run businesses in catering, travel services, events and cultural tourism. The World Bank notes that tourism-related SMEs play a central role in job creation due to strong linkages with other sectors and the labor-intensive nature of service delivery.

Culinary entrepreneurship is another growing segment. Professionals such as Selassie Atadika are involved in food ventures that contribute to destination branding and value addition, reflecting the integration of cultural industries into tourism.

Across the value chain, women are concentrated in service and operational segments, including hospitality, food services and tourism experiences, which are central to visitor engagement and revenue generation.

At the same time, industry platforms such as the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa 2026 highlight rising investment in hospitality infrastructure, business tourism and events, pointing to continued expansion in capital-intensive segments alongside service-driven activities.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang