Prasenjit Chakraborty - Mumbai Intrepid Travel, a global leader in adventure travel, has announced the hiring of 15 female tour leaders in India this year, bringing its female representation in the country to 40%, with 32 women leaders. This initiative aligns with Intrepid India’s mission to promote workforce diversity, empower women in the travel industry, and advance gender equality.
Female tour leaders provide unique perspectives and enrich cultural exchanges between travellers and local communities. Headquartered in Australia, Intrepid Travel offers sustainable, immersive experiences across all seven continents. With India’s adventure tourism market projected to surpass $2 billion by 2028, the country is emerging as a key destination for travellers from regions like Australia, the USA, Europe, and beyond.
The female leaders at Intrepid Travel India come from various regions of India, including Rajasthan, Uttarakhand (Haldwani, Dehradun), Delhi/NCR, Assam (Guwahati), Nagaland, Karnataka (Mangalore), Maharashtra (Mumbai), Darjeeling, Tamil Nadu (Madurai), and Kerala (Alleppey). The basic requirements for becoming a tour leader at Intrepid are a graduate degree and a minimum age of 25. They should also be amiable and pleasant.
Speaking about the hirings, Rama Mahendru, Country General Manager-India, Intrepid Travel, said, ‘Female tour leaders serve as role models, inspiring other women to pursue careers in the travel and tourism industries. A balanced team of male and female leaders improves customer service and caters to a broader range of client needs. Having female tour leaders can make female travellers feel more comfortable and secure, encouraging more women to travel. Also, we want to bring out the importance of inclusivity in the workforce. We would love to make the rate of 50:50 female and male by 2025.”
Intrepid Travel India set a goal this year to have 40% female leaders and 60% male leaders and succeeded in doing so. The company’s goal is to have 50-50 gender parity among tour leaders by 2025, reflecting the company’s commitment to gender equality and creating more opportunities for women in the travel industry.
