Human rights in the hospitality and tourism industries

Hospitality and tourism can play a major role in empowering marginal communities as we celebrate Human Rights Day in South Africa on March 21.

The industry needs to continue to adhere to the tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone document in the history of human rights, which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

The hospitality profession, which is deeply rooted in human interactions, must be a beacon of these values.

Says Azola Konjwa, a lecturer at the IIE School of Hospitality & Service Management, a centre of service education excellence with campuses in Johannesburg and Cape Town: “Human rights underpins everything that the hospitality does; from the way guests and staff are treated, to way the operation fits in within the community it is situated. The future of the hospitality industry is also about employing people that are taught about sustainability at hospitality schools.”

According to the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, some key human rights issues which hotels and those working in hospitality should examine include:

• Right to work – are you providing jobs for local communities and contributing to the local economy?
• Labour conditions – are your staff well-treated?
• Land rights and forced displacement – has your hotel siting denied local people access to their land?
• Forced labour – how well are your agency workers treated? Can you be sure they are not being exploited?
• The right to water and sanitation – are you enhancing the drinking water availability for the local area? Or is your hotel’s consumption of water at the expense of others?
• The right to life and health – how do you ensure staff wellbeing?
• The right to dignity and privacy – how do you protect the privacy of your guests?
• Economic impacts – How are you giving back to the local communities through employment and supply chains? Are you paying suppliers and workforce fairly?
• Cultural impacts – Are you providing a centre for community involvement that enables positive and shared cultural experiences? Or do you provide excursions that exploit local communities?
• Child labour – are any of the goods or services you use the product of child labour?
• Sexual exploitation – are your premises used to sexually abuse adults or children?
• The right to participate – do your workers have a voice?

The hospitality industry also has to focus on accessibility and inclusion.Hotels, restaurants, and other establishments must ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms and other physical accommodations, as well as staff training on how to serve people with disabilities.

Environments that are welcoming to people of all backgrounds have to be created, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of colour and marginalised groups.

Hospitality businesses often deal with a wide range of people from different cultural backgrounds. This makes cultural sensitivity and respect for differing traditions, languages, and beliefs a core issue in upholding human rights.

Ensuring equal treatment for men and women within the hospitality industry, both as employees and as guests, is another fundamental aspect of human rights. This includes ensuring women have equal access to job opportunities and protection from harassment.

By focusing on these areas, hospitality businesses can play a pivotal role in promoting human rights, offering a welcoming environment for everyone, and ensuring fair treatment of employees and guests alike.

The IIEHSM has campuses in Johannesburg and Cape Town. See their website or email info@iiehsm.com for more information.

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