Success Stories Light up Conclusion of 3-day Global Women’s Meet on Tourism

IDUKKI:
Inspirational life stories of women who fought against circumstances, their own families, and society at large to make a mark in the travel industry came to the fore at the conclusion of the pioneering Global Women Conference on Gender Inclusive and Responsible Tourism in the district today.

The string of narratives on career struggles and eventual success led tourism organizations at the three-day event to pledge their support to all efforts to bring women into leadership positions in the tourism ecosystem.

At scenic Mankulam near Munnar hill station, where Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society (KRTMS), on behalf of the state Tourism Department, held the conference in association with UN Women, young Shyni Rajkumar re-wound her feat that earned her the record of being one woman who rode more than 500,000 km on a two-wheeler. The achievement enabled the native of Thiruvananthapuram to alter her initial reputation as a ‘girl with temerity’ and become the founder of the state’s first Women’s Bullet Club.

Shalini P.S., 46, who founded the Earthen Pool Villa at Marayur in this district, said gender justice was not about competing with anyone but about women’s right to find their space and live in it.

Wayanad-based Chitrashalabham travel agency founder Lilliya Thomas, a teacher, revealed her plans to give classes on women-friendly tourism.

Indu Krishna of Kochi, who launched the travel platform ‘Escape Now’ in 2015 when she was 30, said the venture primarily resulted from her being kept away from peer groups. Other speakers today were World of Women Calicut founder Nidhiya Chandran and Dream Acre Farms Homestays entrepreneur Jisha Vinod.

Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society CEO Rupeshkumar K who moderated the panel also presented the draft Classification – Women Friendly Accommodation Units document. The draft Classification document will be released after ascertaining the feedback from stakeholders and making due revisions, if necessary.

Fellow delegates at the conference assured “full support” to Kerala Tourism’s initiatives to make the sector women-friendly, for which authorities have already stepped-up efforts.

Those participating in the discussion said making women-friendly tourism practices official through government intervention can enable their implementation from the grassroots level.

The speakers at a session on ‘Kerala’s Tourism Industry’s Effort for Women Empowerment Through Tourism’ included Tourism Additional Secretary Jagadees D, Kerala Travel Mart Executive Committee Member Vinod V, Munnar Destination Makers President Vimal Roy, SMART Secretary Justin Jose, Paradise Holidays Director Sridevi Ratheesh, Tourism Professionals Club Secretary Remya Sreejith and Seychelles Harris Homestay owner E.V. Harris.

Earlier, UN Women Program Specialist Poulomi Pal, Cebu Normal University (The Philippines) Assistant Professor Clareziel D. Ladringan, Roundglass Sustain founder Neha Dara, Marvel Tours MD Sejoe Jose, Design Combine Architect Partner Monolita Chatterjee, and Somatheeram Ayurveda Group Chairman Baby Mathew addressed a panel discussion on ‘Resilience and Adaptation in Tourism’.

The conference, which was inaugurated on Saturday by Kerala Tourism Minister Shri P.A. Mohamed Riyas, features keynote sessions, panel discussions, a B2B Meet and networking sessions. The aim, overall, is to create opportunities for conversations and collaborations besides fostering a dynamic environment for partnership-building and exchanging innovative ideas in Gender Inclusive and Responsible Tourism.

Kerala’s RT initiatives have, since the society’s inception in 2008, evolved into a massive grassroots network with 25,188 registered units. Of these, 17,632 are owned or led by women. More than 52,000 people directly and 98,432 indirectly have benefited from its activities, mostly in rural areas. The RT projects also promote art, craft, and traditional livelihoods, earning numerous national and international honours.