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Challenges to Cracking the Glass Ceiling among Saudi Women in the Tourism Industry

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  • Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih

    (Management Department, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa 31982, Saudi Arabia
    Hotel Management Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Helwan University, Cairo P.O. Box 12612, Egypt)

  • Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr

    (Higher Institute for Specific Studies, Future Academy, Cairo P.O. Box 11771, Egypt)

Abstract

Women’s participation in the tourism workforce is growing intensely in response to Saudi Vision 2030. Notwithstanding this, Saudi women still have limited access to senior management positions. This study explores the barriers that Saudi women face to reach top managerial positions in the tourism industry and explores how Saudi women could crack the glass ceiling. For these reasons, this study undertook a phenomenological approach using in-depth interviews with Saudi women who were able to reach senior management. The purpose of the interviews is to explore their lived experience and their accessibility to senior management positions. The results of a thematic analysis showed that there were four overlapped barriers for the glass ceiling among Saudi women: cultural and social barriers, regulatory barriers, organizational barriers, and personal barriers. These main barriers have sub-barriers that contribute to the glass ceiling and prevent many women from reaching senior positions. This study shows that overcoming these barriers, particularly cultural and social barriers, could help Saudi women to crack the glass ceiling and achieve their dream of leadership. This study discusses the implications for policy makers, academics, and practitioners on the effective contribution of Saudi women to the tourism labor market, which contributes to sustainable tourism development and, ultimately, to Saudi Vision 2030.

Suggested Citation

  • Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr, 2024. "Challenges to Cracking the Glass Ceiling among Saudi Women in the Tourism Industry," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jtourh:v:5:y:2024:i:1:p:14-224:d:1355227
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr, 2023. "Local versus Foreign Worker Perceptions, Commitment and Attitudes toward Careers in Restaurants and Cafés: Evidence from Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Christy Glass & Alison Cook & Alicia R. Ingersoll, 2016. "Do Women Leaders Promote Sustainability? Analyzing the Effect of Corporate Governance Composition on Environmental Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(7), pages 495-511, November.
    3. Vimolwan Yukongdi, 2005. "Women in Management in Thailand: Advancement and Prospects," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(2), pages 267-281, June.
    4. Ashforth, Blake E., 1989. "The experience of powerlessness in organizations," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 207-242, April.
    5. Maleeha Mohammed Zaaf Al-Qahtani & Tarek Tawfik Yousef Alkhateeb & Haider Mahmood & Manal Abdalla Zahed Abdalla & Thikkryat Jebril Obaid Talalah Qaralleh, 2020. "The Role of the Academic and Political Empowerment of Women in Economic, Social and Managerial Empowerment: The Case of Saudi Arabia," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, June.
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