For the first time in the country, Kerala Tourism will introduce a gender-inclusive and women-friendly tourism policy.
This is part of the efforts, launched in 2022 under the aegis of the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society, to make the State a women-friendly destination. As part of the initiative, the State government will soon declare destinations such as Kanthalloor, Kumarakom, Perumpalam, Kadalundi, Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, and Munnar, where a gender audit has been completed, women-friendly destinations, according to Tourism department sources.
Efforts are also under way to declare another 14 destinations where the gender audit is in the final stages women-friendly by this year itself. However, significant infrastructure gaps were found in 72 destinations where safety audits have been completed. A policy framework is needed to address the gaps, and a stakeholders’ workshop scheduled to be held on Tuesday as part of formulating a comprehensive gender-inclusive and women-friendly tourism policy in line with the declaration made at the Global Women Conference on Gender-Inclusive and Responsible Tourism held in December 2024 is expected to come up with suggestions to formulate the framework of the policy.
Stakeholder meetings
There would be more stakeholder meetings before finalising the draft. “The main purpose of the policy is to make Kerala a travel destination that appeals to women by revolutionising the travel and tourism industry of the State. Already, the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society has undertaken a slew of initiatives, and 17,631 units were registered under the society, including units that undertake exclusive women’s tours, homestays, souvenir units run by women, and so on. However, lot needs to be done to attract more women to undertake a variety of entrepreneurial opportunities in the hospitality sector, as well as to attract women travellers to Kerala. The policy is expected to bridge the gaps in the area and redefine women’s travel in Kerala,” said a senior Tourism department officer.
Close to 60% the tourists who frequent various scenic destinations in Kerala are women and children.
