Cedar Inn in Darjeeling and its managing director Gitu Dewan. Pictures by Suman Tamang

Siliguri, Sept. 16: One runs a swanky hotel in Darjeeling, the other manages a home-stay in Tinchulay, while the third is the main “man” behind a reclusive resort in Kalimpong.

The region has quite an impressive list of women who have contributed to the growth of its tourism sector. This World Tourism Day on September 27, the Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators’ Association will felicitate at least 15 of them in recognition of their efforts.

Every year, the UN World Tourism Organisation chooses a theme for World Tourism Day. This year’s theme —Tourism opens doors for women — celebrates the achievements of women in tourism and supports one of the millennium development goals of the UN: promote gender equality and women empowerment.

“It is difficult as a woman, particularly a single woman, to manage a big business, but I have always enjoyed the challenge,” said Gitu Dewan, the managing director of Cedar Inn, considered to be one of the top five hotels in Darjeeling.

“Times have changed, making it a lot easier for women entrepreneurs. I enjoy an excellent support system and my team members (the hotel employs 35 people), with whom I have been working ever since the inception of the hotel in 1999, have made it possible to make this business a success,” she added.

A picture in contrast is Senu Gurung, or didi, of Tinchulay village in the Kurseong subdivision. “Honestly, athiti satkar (hospitality) is not a man’s forte at all,” says the 50 something woman whose Gurung House has earned quite a name for itself. “Men are good for other jobs — guiding tourists, driving them around and the like,” she added. Perhaps, this is why she herself cooks for all her guests, whom she prefers not to call “tourists”.

Gurung is helped by a strong brigade of women, including her sister-in-law and daughters-in-law. “The ingredients for the food we serve are all grown by us,” she said. “The honey comes from our apiary and the ghee is also made by us. This would not have been possible if all the women in the family did not work together. In fact, when there are a lot of guests, even my 84-year-old mother comes in to help.”

Armed with a degree in tourism management from Mumbai, Honey Pradhan started Orchid Retreat with two cottages about four years ago on the compound of a nursery run by her in-laws in Kalimpong. The “birding resort”, which now comprises five cottages, attracts a lot of bird-watchers, thanks to her efforts in bird conservation.

“I wanted to do something with my degree and this was the perfect opportunity,” said Pradhan. At the resort, it is not only her managerial skills that come to the fore, but her culinary skills as well. Like Gurung, Pradhan cooks for all her guests.

“The women are the main force behind tourism, because at the grassroots level it is they who provide hospitality to the tourists,” said Raj Basu, the working president of the tour operators’ association. “Nowadays, women are also taking up managerial roles and that is an encouraging sign.”

Besides felicitation, the association will also put up a photo-exhibition on this year’s World Tourism Day theme.