Intrepid Travel, a leading adventure travel company based in Australia, has taken a significant step towards gender diversity. This year, the company hired 15 female tour leaders for its India team, increasing the total number of female leaders to 32. With this addition, women now make up 40% of Intrepid India’s leadership team. The company emphasized its commitment to building a diverse workforce and empowering women in the travel industry. This move also highlights their dedication to advancing gender equality.
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 industry. 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.”
Offering sustainable and immersive travel experiences across all seven continents, Intrepid Travel connects travelers with local communities for enriching journeys. According to recent reports, India’s adventure tourism market is rapidly expanding and is projected to exceed USD 2 billion by 2028. With this growth, India is becoming a top destination for adventure travelers from around the globe.
This year, Intrepid Travel India reached its ambitious goal of having 40% female and 60% male leaders. The company aims to achieve a 50:50 gender balance among tour leaders by 2025. This milestone underscores their commitment to providing equal opportunities for women and fostering inclusivity in the travel industry.
The newly appointed female tour leaders come from various regions across India. These include Rajasthan, Uttarakhand (Haldwani, Dehradun), Delhi/NCR, Assam (Guwahati), Nagaland, Karnataka (Mangalore), Maharashtra (Mumbai), Darjeeling, Tamil Nadu (Madurai), and Kerala (Alleppey).
