The Tourism Office of Spain (Turespaña) in Mumbai organized an engaging evening of conversation,
culture, and connection, with its program “Women Travelers to Spain: A Passport to Yourself” taking
place on 21st November 2025 at IFBE, Ballard Estate. Thoughtfully designed as a celebration of
women and the transformational experience of travel, the evening brought together women
professionals, creators and enthusiasts to experience Spain through a very personal lens.
The guests began arriving at 7:00 pm, gathering in anticipation of an evening of dialogue that would
expand beyond destinations and itineraries. The event commenced with a welcome address
from Elena Orland, Director of the Tourism Office of Spain in India. She set the tone with a powerful
remark, “Beyond the best-known destinations, Spain is a wonderful country that truly welcomes
women travellers to enjoy unique and authentic experiences that will make your travel to Spain – and
to yourself – memorable.”
In this way, her remarks framed the spirit of the evening – Spain as a destination, where women feel
safe, inspired and free to engage in both discovery and self-discovery. Renowned blogger and
influencer Roxanne Bamboat moderated a lively panel discussion featuring three panellists—Isha
Bhansali, Fashion Stylist and Consultant; Xenia Lam, a Hotelier and freelance journalist and presently
the General Manager at Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai; and Reshma Mehta, Entrepreneur. Each spoke
about their first impressions of Spain, noting the country’s colour, vibrancy and youthful energy. They
emphasized that Spain consistently met—and often exceeded—their expectations, offering
everything from coastal beauty to cultural depth. The panellists shared personal stories about
their own experiences related to Spain’s food, festivals, sustainable ways of exploring the destination,
and the ease and comfort traveling women often experience.
A key point of discussion was Spain’s safety and comfort for solo women travellers. The panelists
shared that Spanish society is warm, non-judgmental and extremely hospitable. Even without
knowing Spanish, travellers can navigate easily, thanks to helpful locals and an organised urban
layout. They also highlighted cultural similarities between India and Spain—particularly around family
values, food, festivity and community dining—making Indian travellers feel instantly at home.
The panel discussion concluded at approximately 9 pm, allowing for a casual networking dinner
featuring Spanish food and wine to take place. Instead of a formal Q&A session after the panel
discussion, guests mingled and enjoyed meaningful conversations with the panellists one-on-one, or
in smaller groups, that extended the discussions of exploration and connection. The evening gradually
ended at approximately 10:30 pm, leaving our guests, or I could say travellers, feeling a sense of
wonder and connection as new meaning was realized related to Spain and the unique experience of
women travellers.
“Women Travelers to Spain: A Passport to Yourself” excelled by offering Spain as a country that
embraces beauty and culture as well as, embraces women travellers inside of being welcoming “in so
many ways and forms.” The evening echoed that travel can be a bridge to discovering yourself, and
that Spain continues to be a place for women to share their stories; where you can travel with
confidence, curiosity and joy.
