Kerala Tourism is moving ahead with its action plan to support newcomers, especially women, entering the tourism sector, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive and sustainable tourism development. This was stated by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas while inaugurating a state-level consultation workshop aimed at formulating a Gender Inclusive and Women-Friendly Tourism Policy.
Organised by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with Kerala Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission Society and UN Women India, the workshop is part of a broader initiative launched in 2022. The initiative focuses on developing women-friendly tourism hubs and creating a robust network of women-led enterprises in the sector.
Highlighting the progress made, the Minister shared that over 17,600 women have already joined the initiative, engaging in enterprises such as women-exclusive tour units, homestays, souvenir production, and services like community tour leaders and operators. These ventures have received capacity-building training, and their activities are now being conducted in a coordinated framework. Financial assistance has also been provided through the RT Mission’s subsidy schemes to support these women-led projects.
Riyas noted that the project has received strong endorsement from UN Women India, which has contributed technical expertise in areas such as destination safety, gender audits, and training modules. Kerala holds the distinction of being the first state in India to conduct gender audits in tourism. Six centres have completed audits, with plans to expand to 14 additional locations this financial year. Additionally, safety audits have been carried out at 68 tourism sites, with implementation of women-friendly practices already underway.
He added that the women-inclusive tourism strategy would help overcome existing sectoral challenges. “Following the pandemic, Kerala has not only witnessed a surge in domestic tourist arrivals but has also surpassed the national average in foreign tourist inflow,” Riyas said.
Tourism Director Smt. Sikha Surendran remarked that Kerala’s women-friendly tourism initiative has become a global model, boosting both community participation and the state’s image as a year-round experiential destination. S.K. Sajeesh, Chairman of Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd. (KTIL), presided over the function.
In her keynote address, Kanta Singh, Country Representative of UN Women India, lauded Kerala for setting benchmarks in gender-inclusive development and expressed continued support for the RT Mission’s efforts.
Rupeshkumar, CEO of Kerala RT Mission Society, presented the framework for the upcoming Gender Responsive Tourism Policy, which will include clear guidelines on implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The policy will aim to increase women’s participation in the tourism value chain, ensure safe and inclusive workplaces, and promote accessible infrastructure for travellers from diverse backgrounds.
Mini Sukumar, Member of the Kerala State Planning Board, stated that the women-friendly initiative has brought about a positive transformation in the state’s tourism landscape. Other key voices included S. Swaminathan, Secretary of Kerala Travel Mart Society, and Jose Dominic, Founder of CGH Earth, along with panelists Veda Bharadwaja and Dr. Peeja Rajan from UN Women India.
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion exploring strategies to integrate gender equity into tourism policy and practice across Kerala.
