The AIM of “Women in Tourism” is to raise the number of employment opportunities for women in tourism in India. This project was initiated after 7 years spent designing responsible tourism experiences and realizing that no tourism enterprises were actively working to reduce the gap in gender equality in India.
The symbol for Women in Tourism is an illustration by talented 19-year-old artist Anmol Paswan from Rajasthan. In her words, the colours and the image represents, “the struggles women face to gain liberty, to travel, and to be empowered, and the confidence to think positive thoughts and step towards the future.”
Anmol comes from a humble background, a small community in rural Rajasthan near Jaipur. But with the help and support of her community, her talent was nurtured, so when she applied for a grant to study at a prestigious school in Mumbai, TATA University, she was accepted. She recently graduated and has created this illustration at the request of Open Eyes.
Anmol grew up in the first community development project that Open Eyes supported. Since 2011, Open Eyes has worked with the community to offer immersive cultural experiences to visiting tourists. Over two days, tourists can enjoy block-printing workshops, meet women artisans, and find out about solar power, organic gardening, and lots of other initiatives. They stay in basic accommodation, take bucket baths, and cope with no air conditioning. But they have an authentic travel experience, connecting to local people and making friends, that they will remember forever.
Plus, they are contributing to the health and wealth of the community, which gives talented girls like Anmol opportunities they would never have had. This is a win-win-win for everyone involved!
