Kerala charts a new course with women- friendly tourism policy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is quietly but steadily reshaping its tourism sector, and this time, it’s putting women and first-time entrepreneurs at the centre. The government has drawn up a draft policy aimed at making the industry more inclusive, safer, and accessible. It’s not just about numbers or fancy projects, officials say it’s about giving women a real stake in the way tourism grows here.

Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas spoke at a workshop on gender-inclusive tourism, organised by Kerala Tourism in collaboration with the Responsible Tourism Mission and UN Women India. He pointed to some results that are already visible: since 2022, over 17,600 women have entered the tourism sector, running everything from homestays to local tour units, souvenir shops, and guiding services. Many of them have received training, some financial support, and the confidence to run businesses that are often small but meaningful.

The policy also comes with concrete measures. Kerala has conducted gender audits at six tourist centres, the first state in the country to do so, and safety audits at 68 locations. Officials say more are planned. It’s part of a wider attempt to make the spaces not just functional but welcoming, especially for women tourists and workers.

Sikha Surendran, Director of Kerala Tourism, said the policy is already having an impact. Visitor numbers are bouncing back post-pandemic, and in some cases, foreign arrivals have outpaced national trends. The underlying idea, she explained, is to make tourism a force that benefits local communities, not just big operators or outside investors.

K Rupeshkumar, CEO of the Responsible Tourism Mission Society, said the policy is aimed at ensuring women can participate safely and fully. “It’s not about ticking boxes,” he said. “It’s about changing mindsets, workplaces, and the way we think about tourism altogether.”

UN Women India, the State Planning Board, and other partners present at the workshop praised Kerala’s approach. Panelists pointed out that while other states talk about women in tourism, Kerala is putting the ideas into practice, sometimes in small, practical ways, sometimes in bigger structural changes.

For a state that has built its reputation on responsible and sustainable tourism, the draft policy is another step in showing that growth doesn’t have to leave anyone behind, and that women’s participation isn’t just a statistic, but a real, tangible shift on the ground.