RT mission sets a global model of women empowerment in tourism, says Kerala Tourism Minister

Kerala’s Responsible Tourism (RT) has been recognised globally for strengthening women empowerment and supporting rural economy through sustainable and inclusive initiatives, Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas said here on Wednesday. He was speaking after inaugurating a five-day Kerala Responsible Tourism Festival on Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds in the city.

With 26,000 RT units across Kerala, around 1.5 lakh families are direct beneficiaries of the RT mission’s various projects across the State, said the Minister.

The fact that 80% of the RT units are led by women shows the success of Kerala’s gender-inclusive tourism and the State’s commitment towards UN’s Gender Inclusive Tourism policy, said Mr. Riyas. In 2025-26, the State Budget earmarked an amount of ₹4 crore rupees for women entrepreneurs for providing loans up to 15 lakhs at an interest rate of 4%, he said. Also, 50% of the total Budget allocated for RT mission is set apart for women, he added.

Responsible tourism had also been an integral component of Kerala Tourism’s accelerated growth in recent years. Kerala Tourism has received around 14 awards in national and international level for its initiatives in RT, added Mr. Riyas. The RT mission has made possible diverse experiences for travellers such as agri farm tourism, food tourism and projects that link tourism with cultural and ecological conservation that elevate rural destinations like Kanthalloor and Beypore to global level, the Minister noted.

Market support

The five-day festival aims to give a strong market support to RT units, facilitating them to sell their products and also seek new business opportunities by collaborating with tour operators, vloggers, resort owners etc.

At the event, a memorandum of understanding for implementing interest subvention scheme for women in RT units was exchanged by Women Development Corporation managing director Bindu V.C. and Rupeshkumar K., CEO, Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society. The festival serves as a venue for RT units from across Kerala to showcase their initiatives that took tourism to the grassroot-levels as a sustainable and inclusive economic activity with active participation of local communities.

A range of traditional products and artifacts, bearing the imprint of RT units from different parts of Kerala, are exhibited at the festival, which has around 120 stalls selling products made by members and artisans of RT units. Food stalls dishing out full-course meals and delicacies from different parts of Kerala at the festival promises visitors a rare opportunity to relish authentic cuisine from up north Kasaragod to the State capital.