Kerala government initiatives turning the entire State into a safe, clean and comfortable destination for women to travel

Women-friendly travel is gaining traction in Kerala, following the global trend, according to Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. Government initiatives are transforming the entire State into a clean, safe, and comfortable destination for women traveling alone or in groups. Speaking on Friday at the State capital to launch an all-woman destination promotion campaign organized by Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society (KRTM Society), Mr. Riyas said Kerala had set another successful example by promoting women-friendly tourism in collaboration with UN Women. 

Women are now traveling independently or with friends, family, or coworkers on a global scale, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They feel more at ease when the hosts are likewise female. Women have a lot of economic options with this approach, particularly in their local communities, according to Riyas. The Minister emphasized that it is noteworthy that young people have joined college tourism clubs and are now promoting Kerala travel, given that the campaign's members are students. Because of their proficiency in using social media to promote travel, the group that departed from the Directorate of Tourism headquarters at Park View was chosen for the campaign. They will visit picturesque locations in the district, such as Amboori and Vellarada, to spread the word about women-friendly travel and inspire women to get involved in this rapidly developing concept. The Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission initiated the women-friendly tourism campaign in October 2022.

The KRTM was given the task of advancing the model, which sees women in the neighborhood take the lead as hosts and facilitators, offering a wide range of services and building a network of female stakeholders and service providers. Making tourist attractions throughout the State a secure and comfortable environment for women to travel is a crucial part of the strategy.

Numerous responsible tourism (RT) organizations have started offering tour packages particularly for women, and thousands of women have joined the projects since they were introduced. Notably, 17,631 KRTM Society units are led or owned by women in 70% of cases, and all of them have enrolled in the Women Friendly Tourism program. In order to help women benefit from the model, workshops and training programs in destination administration, hospitality, and souvenir manufacture have also been organized. According to a release from the Tourism department, Kerala also stands out as the first state to carry out a gender audit in the tourism sector in collaboration with UN Women. On the occasion were KRTM Society CEO K. Rupesh Kumar and Director of Tourism Shikha Surendran.