In Kerala Women Entrepreneurs in Tourism to get loan at 4%

Thiruvananthapuram: To empower women and promote inclusive economic growth in tourism, the Kerala government has rolled out a special loan subsidy scheme aimed at supporting women-led enterprises under its Women-Friendly Tourism Scheme. The programme is being jointly implemented by the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) and the Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission).

The announcement was made following a high-level meeting attended by Public Works and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas and Minister for Women and Child Development Veena George. The scheme is a part of Kerala’s broader vision to position itself as a gender-inclusive and socially responsible tourism destination.

Subsidised Loans at 4% Interest

Under the new scheme, women entrepreneurs who have registered under the Responsible Tourism Mission's women-friendly initiative will be eligible for subsidised loans at an interest rate of just 4%. The initiative targets the 18,000+ women who have already signed up under the programme and expressed interest in launching ventures across 24 different categories—including home-stays, local craft enterprises, wellness tourism services, guided tours, eco-tourism activities, culinary ventures, and more.

Minister Riyas said that the Tourism Department has allocated Rs. 4 crore for the successful implementation of the scheme. This step will ensure that women with entrepreneurial aspirations in tourism are no longer held back by lack of access to affordable capital.

Fast-Tracked Implementation and Monitoring

To ensure smooth coordination and timely rollout, the government has appointed Responsible Tourism Mission Society CEO K. Rupeshkumar and KSWDC Managing Director Bindu V.C. as nodal officers. They will jointly oversee project planning, application processing, disbursal of loans, and on-ground support mechanisms such as business training, mentoring, and marketing assistance.

The application and verification process for the loans is expected to be fully digital, in line with the government’s push towards transparent and tech-enabled governance. KSWDC will soon publish detailed guidelines regarding eligibility, documentation, and the repayment process.

Empowering Women, Enriching Kerala’s Tourism

The Women-Friendly Tourism Scheme, launched earlier as part of Kerala’s post-pandemic tourism revival strategy, has already gained national attention for its inclusive approach. It not only promotes the safety and participation of women tourists but also seeks to make women active stakeholders in the tourism economy.

Partnerships with banks, micro-finance institutions, and skill development agencies are being explored to provide a holistic ecosystem for women entrepreneurs—from training to funding to market linkages.