The Kerala government has taken a step towards promoting gender equality in its tourism industry by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UN Women. The agreement aims to create a welcoming environment for women in the State’s tourist industry.
Kerala Tourism and UN Women India have committed to promoting gender-inclusive tourist destinations throughout the State. The signing of the MoU marks the beginning of a joint initiative to empower women in tourism and promote their participation in the workforce.
The pact was signed by Rani George, Secretary, Kerala Tourism and Nishtha Satyam, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women India. Speaking on the occasion, George highlighted the importance of gender equality in tourism, stating that the industry should be a catalyst for change in society.
The MoU will enable Kerala Tourism to work with UN Women to identify and address the challenges that women face in the tourism sector. This includes promoting the involvement of women in decision-making processes and developing gender-sensitive tourism policies and practices.
Furthermore, the agreement aims to create a safe and respectful environment for women in the tourism industry. Kerala Tourism will work towards providing training and capacity-building programs for women in the sector, including guides, tour operators, and hospitality staff.
“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,” Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas is quoted as having said in the release.
The partnership between Kerala Tourism and UN Women India is expected to create a positive impact on the tourism industry in the State. The initiative is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, particularly Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The Responsible Tourism Mission will carry out the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed by Susan Ferguson, a representative of UN Women India, and P B Nooh, director of Kerala tourism. In addition to offering advice for baseline research, implementing women-friendly tourist destinations, and supporting interventions to change pervasive discriminatory social norms, this will be accomplished by creating modules and building the capacity of relevant stakeholders.
“More jobs to women in key slots will not only generate employment but curtail the prevailing gender inequality,” Susan Ferguson, a representative of UN Women India said.
The four-day summit was officially opened by Kerala’s Minister of Tourism, P A Mohamed Riyas, who stated that the MoU was a continuation of the State government’s increased efforts towards women-friendly tourism since October last year. There are 280 delegates and 70 speakers in the conclave.
The signing of the MoU between the Kerala government and UN Women is a step towards building an inclusive and gender-sensitive tourism industry. By empowering women in the sector, the State can ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for its tourism industry. The initiative will not only benefit women but also promote Kerala as a safe and welcoming destination for tourists.
