The Kerala government is gearing up to introduce a new policy aimed at strengthening the state’s tourism sector by making it more women-friendly and making Kerala the safest global destination for travelers, the Minister of State said on Saturday. Tourism, PA Mohamed Riyas.

Speaking at the opening of the three-day Global Women’s Conference on Inclusive and Responsible Tourism at Mankulam near Munnar, Riyas revealed that an audit report had been completed to assess the current state of women-friendly environments in Kerala’s tourism industry as noted. in a government press release.

The results will be shared at the conference organized by the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society (KRTMS) in partnership with Kerala Tourism and UN Women, Riyas noted.

The minister also highlighted that international experts are participating in the event and that next steps will be shaped by lessons learned from discussions during the conference. Dean Kuriakose, Congress MP from Idukki, who attended the event, expressed pride in hosting a major global conference on gender justice in the hill district, an area known worldwide as a destination leading tourist destination.

Devikulam MP A Raja, who chaired the event, lauded Kerala Tourism’s initiatives, emphasizing that they are based on trust and community involvement, positioning them as “a model for other regions”. Dr. Harold Goodwin, Global President of the International Center for Responsible Tourism, delivered the keynote address, recognizing Kerala as the first state in the world to conduct a gender audit before implementing an inclusive tourism policy.

“Kerala has undeniably positioned itself at the forefront of global responsible tourism, with its democratic commitment being a driving force in this achievement,” he said, according to the release.

Sikha Surendran, Director of Kerala Tourism, presented the first gender audit report for tourism in the state, carried out by UN Women in collaboration with the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society. She assured that similar audits would be conducted periodically in the future.

“We will continually collect feedback from women tourists to refine and improve women-friendly initiatives,” she said, according to the statement.

The event will include a three-day exhibition and B2B networking session designed to encourage collaboration, build partnerships and share innovative ideas, the release added.

Additionally, the conference will celebrate and honor women entrepreneurs and local leaders in the tourism industry.

Launched in 2008, Kerala’s Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative has grown into a vast grassroots network, with 25,188 registered units, of which 17,632 are owned or led by women. More than 52,000 people benefited directly from this initiative, and 98,432 people benefited from indirect benefits, mainly in rural areas. RT projects also support arts, crafts and traditional livelihoods, winning numerous national and international awards, the statement concluded.