Kerala Tourism is all set to come out with a mobile app to further strengthen the country's first women-friendly tourism initiative launched by the state government to turn the state's tourism sector gender inclusive. Aiming at the participation of 1.5 lakh women from the state, the project is being implemented with the support of various organisations, including UN Women. It has set a target of creating 10,000 women ventures and 30,000 jobs in the tourism sector.
State Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas rolled out the initiative in tune with the UN Women's Gender Inclusive Tourism concept, which sees women playing key roles in the tourism sector. He also rolled out other women-friendly tourism products and packages. "We are living in a world where women travel to far off places in groups of their own or individually. Creating a conducive ambience for women tourists in the state is a policy priority of the government. The app on women-friendly tourism will make the visit to Kerala more pleasant and hassle-free for women," said Riyas.
State Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission), the nodal agency for implementing the women-friendly tourism project, has been asked to prepare the content of the app, which will have all location-specific information and images, including the socio-cultural features of various places of Kerala, to serve as a ready reckoner on the unique project. The mobile app marks the commencement of the second phase activities of the pioneering project. Apart from providing information about tourism centres in Kerala, the app will have all the details of women-friendly tourism products and packages, resorts, hotels, women enterprises, recognised tour operators, women tour operators, travel agencies, home stays, and women tour guides.
RT Mission State Coordinator K Rupeshkumar said that information in the app will include women-led handicraft and souvenir production and sales units, amenities like rest rooms, camping sites, licensed houseboats, caravan parks, and ethnic cuisine units in various places, as well as festivals and experiential and adventure packages.