Li women in Hainan get hands-on hospitality career experience

The kickoff event for the "Travel with Purpose" Week is held on Oct 12 at Mermoon Resort Hainan Tufu Bay in Lingshui, featuring job shadowing, skills workshops, and government-enterprise matchmaking to help female participants find stable local jobs in culture and tourism. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Li women in Hainan province's Lingshui Li autonomous county gained hands-on exposure to hospitality careers on Oct 12 as part of an event aimed at expanding employment opportunities for rural ethnic minority women.

The event invited 20 local Li women to participate in job shadowing, skills workshops, and government-enterprise matchmaking to help them pursue stable, nearby jobs in the local culture and tourism sector. They learned about food and beverage and housekeeping roles, including job duties, industry standards, and career pathways. Human resources leaders from Hainan hospitality businesses were gathered to discuss job fit, skills training, and flexible work arrangements.

Lingshui's ecological and cultural tourism resources have fueled demand for local and flexible employment. But limited professional skills, constrained job-search channels, and family caregiving responsibilities have made it difficult for many Li women to qualify for positions. To meet the growing industry demands, local hospitality companies are prioritizing localized and diversified hiring. Key properties in Haikou, Sanya, Wanning, and Lingshui have created nearly 3,000 jobs, with locals filling more than 90 percent and the number of employees from ethnic minorities steadily rising. Since the start of the year, related operators have provided nearly 37,000 flexible shifts totaling close to 270,000 work hours.

Fu Xiaoling, chairwoman of the county's women's federation, said women's employment and income growth are key drivers of rural development. The federation intends to continue working with nonprofits and hospitality businesses on regular career empowerment, skills training, and job matching, she said, to close the "last mile" of employment services for rural women.

The hospitality industry is defined by the diversity of its roles, according to Michael Zhou, vice-president of operations at Hilton South China. The sector offers a wide range of development opportunities, many of which do not require advanced degrees or extensive work experience, he said.

Hu Yanong, a villager from Tianzai village in Yingzhou township, said she gained a great deal from the event and is interested in hotel front desk roles. She hopes authorities will continue offering such programs.

The event marked the opening of Hilton's "Travel with Purpose" Week in Greater China, which features charitable events in Shanghai and other cities focused on vulnerable groups and community support. It was co-hosted by Hilton, the China Environmental Protection Foundation and the Lingshui Li Autonomous County Women's Federation.