In the words of our partner Kristin Canning: “Travellers can play a crucial role in empowering women by supporting women-led Indigenous businesses and engaging respectfully with the diverse roles women hold within our cultures.” With this International Women’s Day theme being to #AccelerateAction for gender equality, we asked our incredible partners who dedicate their lives to making the people, wildlife, and places around them better, about how travel can benefit women and girls. Read on for insights from Allison Zurfluh of Barena Association, Nadine Toe Toe of Kohutapu Lodge, Emma Bean of the National Kiwi Hatchery, and Kristen Canning of Rainforest Rescue. Learn how Indigenous cultures and storytelling, protecting the planet and wildlife, and the wellbeing of women, are all intrinsically linked, and how at the heart of empowering women is making intentional, conscious and impactful decisions when you travel. These decisions will not only support women economically, but give them a platform and contribute to the knowledge sharing that is key to making long lasting impact.
HOW DO TRAVELLERS PLAY A ROLE IN EMPOWERING WOMEN, INCLUDING YOU AND THOSE YOU WORK WITH?
Travellers have a powerful role in empowering women by supporting conservation and sustainable tourism initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for women. At Rainforest Rescue, women make up approximately 50% of our team, actively contributing to the restoration and protection of the Daintree Rainforest. By visiting the region, engaging with conservation efforts, and supporting reforestation projects, travellers help sustain local jobs in ecosystem restoration—ensuring that women in conservation can continue to thrive and lead in protecting our planet. – Kristin Canning, Partnerships Director, Rainforest Rescue
Travellers can play a crucial role in empowering women by supporting women-led Indigenous businesses and engaging respectfully with the diverse roles women hold within our cultures. Their choice to participate in culturally immersive experiences empowers wāhine (women) to step into leadership positions and contributes to preserving traditional knowledge. By respecting and valuing Indigenous ways of life, travellers not only empower women but also honour the cultural fabric that shapes these roles, even if they differ from their own ideologies. – Nadine Toe Toe (Ngai Tai), Owner/Director, Kohutapu Lodge & Whirinaki Forest Footsteps
Tourism provides many opportunities for women. As wahine, we play a key role in storytelling, hospitality, and guardianship (kaitiakitanga) of the environment. When travellers listen to our stories, embrace our messages, and respect our values; they empower us to continue sharing our knowledge and our mahi (work) to protect our precious taonga, the kiwi, for future generations. – Emma Bean, Kiwi Whisperer & Manager, The National Kiwi Hatchery
WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE ON HOW TRAVELLERS CAN ENSURE THEIR TRAVEL CHOICES EMPOWER WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD?
Be intentional about your travel choices. Select experiences that contribute to the empowerment of women and actively promote women in leadership or provide opportunities to contribute to their community or environment. At National Kiwi Hatchery we are a predominantly wahine (female) team in a range of roles including guides, kiwi keepers, and business leaders, each of us passionate and dedicated to the conservation of New Zealand’s iconic bird, the kiwi. – Emma Bean
The best way for travellers to empower women is by making conscious, ethical choices that support community-led initiatives. Opting for eco-tourism experiences, purchasing from women-owned businesses, and actively engaging with conservation projects—like those at Rainforest Rescue—helps create lasting economic and environmental benefits. Every travel decision, from where you stay to how you spend, can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future for women in tourism, conservation, and beyond. – Kristin Canning
Travellers should prioritize supporting women-led Indigenous businesses and experiences, while also respecting the unique and sometimes different roles women hold within local and Indigenous cultures. Engaging with local female guides, hosts, and community members in a respectful manner fosters empowerment and helps preserve traditional knowledge and practices. It’s important for travellers to acknowledge that the roles of women in Indigenous cultures may not always align with their personal beliefs, but understanding and respecting these traditions is key to supporting gender equity in a culturally sensitive way. – Nadine Toe Toe (Ngai Tai)
And, to sum it up beautifully, we’ll leave you with thoughts from Allison Zurfluh, Co-Founder & President, Barena Association:
Women are a powerful force of solidarity, creativity, tenacity and support. Travellers are storytellers, but they are also consumers. So by opting into experiences that are women-powered, they support a business, and by relating their experiences to others, they can have a concrete impact on sustaining a woman’s livelihood.
