Now, travel firms focus on the travellers' gender
At Mumbai’s Kesari travels it is a toss-up between My Prince Charming offering tours for men - the men’s way, or My Fair Lady aimed at the woman who wants to let her hair down in the company of other women.

Gender specific international tours are gaining ground, as outbound tourists move beyond the catch all family-group tours. Though still largely stereotypical, with fashion shows for women and laddish activities for men, travel companies in India are experimenting with programmes worked with a focus on the travellers’ gender.

Among the early starters, Kesari travels has built up a community around its `My Fair Lady’ travellers. The women are offered a Club card, with discounts from card associate companies such as Tanishq, VLCC and others.

They also keep the link alive through get-togethers organised periodically. On offer are a variety of domestic and international destinations. Says Swati Kulkarni, who went on one such trip to Singapore last year, ”I had the time of my life, without having to worry about who was watching.’’ Says Mercury travels vice-chairman Ashwini Kakkar, “Women travellers have specific needs that are being targeted by the travel industry through the world.

“Some tour operators offer outbound tours to groups of gay people , but these are not advertised for obvious reasons,” says a Mumbai-based gay activist. Segmentation of travel into special products for niche audiences is a sign of a maturing market.


Economic Times, India