Ministry of Tourism signs MoU for promoting women empowerment in the sector

The Ministry of Tourism has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) for ensuring women empowerment in the tourism industry.

Through this initiative FLO & TAAI would lay emphasis on personal and hospitality skills, a more flexible work balance and greater options for entrepreneurship with significantly lower capital.

Speaking on the occasion Prahlad Singh Patel said that, “Women in our country are excelling in different fields. We have the best of women doctors, pilots, scientists and businesswomen. Women have also excelled in various adventure related activities and sports like mountaineering, trekking, bicycling, etc. Today, women form an important component of our Armed Forces. And we are a nation where women have assumed positions of the Prime Minister and President of the country.”

The Tourism Minister further said that “there is a need to organize and popularise training and skill development programmes targeting women, including those in rural and remote areas, make them aware of digital technologies and facilitate them to be part of decision making at the community level”.

“Therefore, it becomes our moral responsibility to ensure that women in the travel and tourism sector are encouraged to come forward and participate in the development of tourism, which would not only benefit the sector, but would also help in their upliftment and empowerment. There are many areas in tourism where women can excel, like homestays, tourist facilitators, catering business and more.”