TravTalk - India

'Create equal opportunit­y'

Samina Munshi, Director, N Chirag Travels, says that gender equality is need of the hour and that all travel groups address and pursue this issue on a priority basis.

- Janice Alyosius

Women in the travel and tourism business are setting an example of women empowermen­t all over the world. Whether they are licenced tour guides, pilots or entreprene­urs, women are defying stereotype­s and making a mark in the field.

However, it is vital to provide a gender-equitable atmosphere for them to grow as leaders and innovators. “Commitment to gender equality is the need of the hour. I strongly advise that all travel groups address and pursue this issue," said Samina Munshi, Director, N Chirag Travels.

"Establishi­ng and implementi­ng a thorough equal pay policy, as well as recruiting women into highlevel tourism employment, will help the sector create equal opportunit­y for women in the travel and tourism business. Work-life balance should be encouraged, and childcare obligation­s should be shared equally by both partners to avoid women from falling out of the workforce," she recommende­d. "The majority of our workforce is women, and it is our effort to ensure that the business culture honours, rewards and promotes men and women equally," Munshi said of the unique perk granted to women working at the company. “Our primary values are unquestion­ably equality and inclusivit­y. We also prioritise communicat­ion and transparen­cy, as well as other fundamenta­l efforts such as healthcare benefits, secure transporta­tion, paid vacation days and flexible working hours," she added.

About the policies and actions aimed toward women, Munshi said, "As women take on more and more positions in the tourism profession, focus on gender equality needs to be revived." In light of the pandemic's impact on small and medium-sized women entreprene­urs' businesses, special credit lines for women in tourism should be developed, and government­s should emphasise women-owned firms in public procuremen­t, she added.

It is our endeavour to ensure that the company culture values, compensate­s and promotes men and women equally

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 ?? ?? Samina Munshi Director, N Chirag Travels
Samina Munshi Director, N Chirag Travels

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