Kerala, UN Women Sign Pact To Boost Women-Friendly Activities In Tourism

Kottayam: The Kerala government on Sunday (February 26) entered into an agreement with the United Nations (UN) Women to boost women-friendly activities in the State's tourism sector. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Kerala Tourism and UN Women India agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State. The MoU was signed by Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh and UN Women India representative Susan Ferguson and it would be implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission, a government release said.

"As per the pact inked at the first-ever Global Responsible Tourism Summit in Kumarakom near this city, both parties will promote women-friendly tourism in Kerala. This will be done by creating modules and capacity-building of relevant stakeholders, besides providing advisory support for baseline research, implementing women-friendly tourist destinations and supporting interventions to change prevalent discriminatory social norms," the release said.

Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas, who inaugurated the four-day summit, said the MoU was in continuation of the State government's renewed efforts towards women-friendly tourism since October last year.

"We will ensure good female participation in tourism initiatives and allied services besides RT (Responsible Tourism) projects. The idea is to promote tourism with focus on women empowerment," he is quoted as having said in the release.

As travelers, it's our responsibility to ensure that everyone feels safe and included. Kerala's #Gender Inclusive Tourism and #Women Friendly Tourism Initiatives are a step in the right direction. Let's keep pushing for progress!
@KeralaTourism @riyasdyfi pic.twitter.com/OhBel9mDQ7 — Susan Ferguson (@fergusonunwomen) February 26, 2023

Ferguson is quoted as having said that women merited encouragement to work in tourism so as to instill a sense of security among the travellers to the State. "More jobs to women in key slots will not only generate employment but curtail the prevailing gender inequality," she said. The conclave features 280 delegates and 70 speakers.