Kerala Advocates for Inclusive and Responsible Tourism Practices
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Munnar, Dec 2 (NationPress) A conference took place in Kerala on Monday advocating for gender-inclusive and responsible tourism practices across the state.
The gathering emphasized the need to develop a tourism landscape that not only celebrates diversity but also empowers women and safeguards the environment through the implementation of sustainable and gender-inclusive approaches in all aspects of tourism.
This event was named ‘The Kerala Declaration of Gender Inclusive and Women Friendly Tourism’.
The declaration, endorsed by a wide range of stakeholders including state agencies, introduced a four-point Call to Action that promotes collaborative efforts to achieve the objectives outlined by the initiative.
It highlighted the pressing requirement to promote gender inclusivity, accessibility, and climate-responsive practices within the tourism industry, while focusing on the safety, well-being, and empowerment of women in the tourism economy.
The document also stressed the importance of advancing gender-sensitive practices throughout all sectors of tourism to guarantee fair representation for women, gender minorities, and other marginalized groups, ensuring equality in opportunities, leadership, and decision-making.
It called for the establishment of capacity-building programs aimed at women in entrepreneurship management, as well as the formulation and enforcement of strong policies to prevent the harassment and exploitation of women and children by implementing effective prevention and response mechanisms.
The declaration advocated for equitable pay and safe working conditions for women, along with reskilling and upskilling initiatives and the use of media and marketing campaigns to dismantle stereotypes regarding gender roles in tourism.
Furthermore, the declaration highlighted the essential role of women in fostering the environment, particularly in promoting climate-responsive tourism practices, supporting ecotourism, and ensuring responsible tourism that benefits the local community.
It acknowledged that women can take a leading role in developing Responsible Tourism (RT) that aligns with local customs, fosters partnerships with local communities, minimizes benefit leakages, and backs medium and micro enterprises through equitable business practices.
The Call to Action committed to advancing the gender-inclusive and responsible tourism model to transform it into a powerful force on the ground.
Key components include the integration of gender inclusivity and RT practices as fundamental principles in tourism planning, with a particular emphasis on women-friendly initiatives, strengthening collaboration among sectors and stakeholders to share knowledge, resources, and strategies, and ongoing monitoring and reporting to ensure gender inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.
Moreover, it advocates for policies that uphold women's rights in tourism while addressing gender-based challenges and enhancing safety and empowerment.
This action plan aligns with the broader goal of cultivating a sustainable and inclusive tourism model that benefits local communities, businesses, destinations, travelers, and governments, urging all stakeholders to adopt this vision.
Notable signatories of the historic Kerala Declaration include State Minister for Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas, UN Women India Country Representative Susan Ferguson, Chairman of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism Global, Dr. Harold Goodwin, and many others.
