Kerala to Host First Ever International Women Conference on ‘Responsible and Gender Inclusive Tourism’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala will host an international conference on women-friendly and gender-inclusive tourism at the Munnar hill station from November 30 to December 2, to promote the participation and representation of women in the tourism sector.

The four-day Global Women Conference on Responsible and Gender Inclusive Tourism organised by the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission) Society aligns with UNWTO’s (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) ‘Gender Inclusive Tourism’ policy. Kerala’s transformative stories in female-friendly tourism will be showcased at the event.

“Kerala is the first state to implement women-friendly tourism projects to ensure gender inclusiveness, women empowerment and safety. This is one of the most innovative concepts presented in the tourism sector,” said Minister for Tourism & Public Works PA Mohamed Riyas.

“The trend of women travelling alone and in groups has increased significantly, and our initiative encourages this. The project also enables women to participate in the tourism economy through various tourism related enterprises like homestays, restaurants, women tour packages etc. Women empowerment through tourism is the essence of this project,” said the Minister.

With the technical support of UN Women-India, RT Mission has implemented women-friendly projects in selected destinations. The UN agency supports destination safety studies, gender audits, and workshops.

“As part of experiential and sustainable tourism, we have created stay packages, arty villages and streets, etc. Our women-friendly tourism initiative is another success story,” said Tourism Secretary K Biju.

“The project also ensures that our tourist destinations are safe and hygienic for female travellers.,” he added.

The conference will highlight gender-inclusive tourism’s relevance globally and accommodate innovative ideas. It will also coordinate and network organisations and institutions that promote women-friendly tourism projects.

“RT Mission has been working on women-friendly tourist destinations. The projects aim to attract and increase women participation and representation in tourism sector,” said Tourism Director Smt Sikha Surendran. “The initiative will increase the confidence of women holidaymakers and thus the tourist flow into the state,” she added.

The RT Mission Society has enlisted 18,000 women-friendly tourism projects, of which 17,631 (70%) are led or owned by women entrepreneurs.

“We are working on integrating all women-led enterprises under an umbrella. They can be community tour leaders, tour operators, drivers and promoters of homestays and restaurants,” RT Mission Society CEO Rupeshkumar K said.

Kerala is the first state in the country to conduct a gender audit, enabling women from rural areas to participate in the tourism economy. Gender audits are underway in six centres and will be extended to ten more this financial year. Safety audits have been completed in 68 centres.

Kerala Tourism launched its Women Friendly Tourism Project on October 26, 2022, to promote women’s participation and empowerment and encourage more women tourists to visit the state.

The project also aims to alleviate poverty and uplift marginalised communities. Many units conduct exclusive women’s tours and promote women-led homestays and restaurants.