The Kerala government is set to draft a women-centric tourism policy to position the state as the safest global destination for women travelers. Announced by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, this initiative follows the state’s first-ever Gender Audit in tourism, presented during the Global Women Conference on Gender-Inclusive and Responsible Tourism at Mankulam, Idukki.
Organized by Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society (KRTMS) in collaboration with Kerala Tourism and UN Women, the three-day conference is the world’s first to focus on gender inclusivity in responsible tourism.
Minister Riyas emphasized that international experts are participating in discussions that will guide the policy’s formulation. The audit aims to regularly evaluate and enhance the safety and inclusivity of tourism activities for women in Kerala.
Key highlights:
- Gender Audit: Conducted by UN Women and KRTMS, Kerala is the first state globally to undertake this initiative.
- Participation: The conference features international experts, political leaders, and industry stakeholders.
- Community Model: Devikulam MLA Shri A. Raja highlighted Kerala Tourism’s trust-based model with local community involvement.
- Recognition: International Centre for Responsible Tourism Chairman Dr. Harold Goodwin commended Kerala’s leadership in responsible and inclusive tourism.
Kerala’s Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative, launched in 2008, boasts over 25,000 registered units, with 17,632 led by women, benefiting over 150,000 individuals directly and indirectly. RT activities focus on promoting rural livelihoods, art, and crafts, earning Kerala global accolades.
The conference also features a B2B networking session, an exhibition, and honors for women entrepreneurs in tourism, underscoring Kerala’s commitment to gender justice and sustainable tourism development.
