The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Women power to the fore in tourism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 27, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Women power to the fore in tourism

Sharath S. Srivatsa

Be it crafts or cuisine or management, women help spread awareness of culture

With home stay concept, Kodagu has opened itself for tourists
Karnataka has been an early starter in attracting women to tourism sector

BANGALORE: Time was when not many of us had the opportunity to get away from it all to a coffee estate. If a friend who owned a plantation obliged, it made for a short holiday followed by weeks of wistfulness. But for most of us, it was the stuff of postcards and travelogues. Not any more. Today, with the concept of home-stay springing up in Kodagu and Chikmagalur districts, the coffee land has opened itself to tourists from far and wide.

As we observe World Tourism Day on September 27 with the theme “Tourism Opens Doors for Women”, women have shown the world what hospitality means and have been the driving force behind the success of the home stay concept in these two districts of Karnataka. Thousands of guests who have enjoyed the hospitality extended by the gracious Kodava women also vouch for the traditional cuisine prepared by the women in the host family that have tickled the taste buds.

“Women not only manage the catering part of the home stay, but also help in making the stay more meaningful for the guests by spreading awareness on Kodava culture and tradition,” says Meena Madappa, who runs Passion Fruit Home Stay in Madikeri.

She says: “More number of women are evincing interest in the home stay concept, as it has shown potential for a decent earning.” Nearly 600 home stays in Kodagu and around 100 in Chikmagalur district are being operated at present, and many more are being planned for the future.

Tourism Commissioner C. Somashekar told The Hindu: “Recognising the potential of home stays in the tourism sector, the Government is extending all possible assistance and is streamlining the sector.

Women have been playing an important role in popularising the home stay concept.”

Karnataka has been an early starter in attracting women to the tourism sector when it extended 5 per cent financial assistance to women entrepreneurs who intend to start hotels.

“In 1992-2002, a large number of women came forward to utilise the benefits extended to them under Tourism Policy to open hotels in Karnataka, and the policy succeeded fairly in its objective,” said a senior Tourism Department official. Further, he said: “A few women are working as tour guides, who have been spreading awareness about the State.”

While a few women have been directly involved in tourism, a large number of them have been contributing to the industry indirectly.

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