Kerala Unveils Gender-Inclusive Tourism Policy to Empower Sector Entrants

### Quick Summary
– Kerala government plans to support women and newcomers in the tourism sector for inclusive and enduring development, as stated by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas.
– A State-level consultation workshop was held to develop a Gender inclusive and Women-Amiable Tourism Policy, organized by the department of Tourism, Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society, and UN Women India.
– Objectives:
– Create women-friendly tourism centers.- Build networks of women-led enterprises in the sector as its inception in 2022.
– Approximately 17,631 women have joined the initiative with diverse enterprises such as homestays, exclusive tours, souvenir units, community tour leadership roles, and tour operators after receiving training.
– Achievements:
– Conducted gender audits at six tourism centers (14 more planned this year).- Completed safety audits at 68 tourism spots; implementation activities for women-friendly initiatives ongoing.
– Upcoming Gender responsive Tourism Policy will focus on fostering women’s participation in tourism industries while ensuring safety/security. Guidelines for monitoring gender-inclusive practices are being developed.

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### Indian Opinion Analysis
Kerala’s proactive measures showcase its commitment to gender inclusivity within a traditionally male-dominated sector like tourism. By encouraging over 17,000 women to participate through tailored training programs alongside enterprise-building opportunities such as homestays or local souvenir production units backed by robust audits of destination safety standards – it considerably boosts women’s economic empowerment. Additionally pairing with UN agencies ensures internationally validated frameworks benefiting infrastructure policies.

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