Conference called for building a tourism landscape that celebrates diversity, empowers women and protects the environment by adopting sustainable and gender-inclusive practices in all verticals of tourism….reports Asian Lite News
A conference was held in Kerala on Monday which called for gender-inclusive and responsible tourism practices in the state.
The event called for building a tourism landscape that celebrates diversity, empowers women and protects the environment by adopting sustainable and gender-inclusive practices in all verticals of tourism.
The conference was titled, ‘The Kerala Declaration of Gender Inclusive and Women Friendly Tourism’.
The declaration, signed by an entire spectrum of stakeholders including state agencies, also unveiled a four-point “Call to Action” advocating collective efforts to secure the goals set out by the initiative.
The declaration pointed to an urgent need for fostering gender inclusivity, accessibility, and climate-responsive practices in the tourism sector while prioritising the safety, well-being and empowerment of women in the tourism economy.
It also emphasised the need to promote gender-sensitive practices across all areas of tourism to ensure fair representation of women, gender minorities, and other under-represented groups, guaranteeing equality in opportunities, leadership and decision-making.
It called for organising capacity-building programmes for women in entrepreneurship management, formulating and implementing robust policies to prevent harassment and exploitation of women and children by putting in place effective prevention and response mechanisms.
The declaration pitched for equitable pay and safe working conditions for women, reskilling and upskilling and leveraging of media and marketing campaigns to break stereotypes about gender roles in tourism.
The declaration underscored the critical role of women in protecting the environment, especially in promoting climate-responsive tourism practices, encouraging ecotourism and responsible tourism that supports the local community.
It noted that women can play a lead role in developing Responsible Tourism (RT) that aligns with local customs and practices, forging partnerships with local communities, reducing leakages in benefits, and supporting medium and micro enterprises through equitable business practices.
The “Call to Action” pledged to take forward the gender-inclusive and responsible tourism model to make it a transformative force on the ground.
These include integration of gender inclusivity and RT practices as the core principles of tourism planning, with a special focus on women-friendly initiatives, strengthening collaboration across sectors and stakeholders to share knowledge, resources and strategies, continuous monitoring and reporting to ensure gender inclusivity, transparency and accountability, advocacy of policies that protect women’s rights in tourism and addressing gender-based challenges and enhancing safety and empowerment.
The action plan is aligned with the larger goal of fostering a sustainable and inclusive tourism model that benefits local communities, businesses, destinations, travellers and governments, and called for all stakeholders to embrace this vision.
The signatories to the historic Kerala Declaration include State Minister for Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas, UN Women India Country Representative Susan Ferguson, Chairman International Centre for Responsible Tourism Global, Dr. Harold Goodwin and numerous others.
IMD issues red alert in 5 Kerala districts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Kerala districts Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, predicting extremely heavy rainfall (over 204.4 mm) in the next 24 hours. An orange alert has been declared for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad, while a yellow alert is in place for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kottayam districts. Northern and central Kerala are bracing for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on Monday, December 2.
Schools and Colleges Closed
In response to the downpour, holidays have been declared for educational institutions in Kottayam, Idukki, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta, and Kannur districts. Schools, Anganwadis, tuition centres, and professional colleges will remain closed, and scheduled examinations have been postponed. However, residential educational institutions in Idukki, operating on a hostel basis, are exempt.
Advisory from the Chief Minister
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged residents in landslide-prone areas to relocate to safer locations during the day. Those living in coastal regions have been advised to stay alert due to the likelihood of rough seas.
Weather Update: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
Meanwhile, Cyclone Fengal has triggered heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over recent days. Although the system weakened into a low-pressure area over North Interior Tamil Nadu early Monday, its impact continues to disrupt normalcy.
Schools and colleges remain closed in affected districts like Villupuram, Cuddalore, Vellore, and Ranipet. Puducherry has also shut all educational institutions, as announced by Education Minister A. Namachivayam.
Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are monitoring the situation closely as they address the aftermath of the cyclone’s passage.
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