Himachal Drafts SheTravel Policy for Women-Friendly Tourism

By: WE Staff | Friday, 27 February 2026

• Himachal Pradesh Government is preparing the SheTravel policy for women
• The objective is to make the state the most women-friendly destination in the mountains of India
• The aim is to develop a safe and gender-responsive tourism environment

To make Himachal Pradesh into the best destination for female travellers in the mountains of India, the state government is developing a SheTravel plan, as a response to the growing number of solo female travellers.

The SheTravel plan proposes to use technology, infrastructure and personnel changes to create a safe and female-friendly tourism environment.

Currently, Himachal Pradesh attracts approximately 16 million visitors per year, and of these 18 percent are solo females, and the future SheTravel plan aims to raise this figure to 35 percent over the next several years, at the same time reducing the number of reported women's safety incidents by half over three years post-implementation of the plan.

The most exciting new initiative of the SheTravel plan is called the "SheShield" safety app which will provide users with SOS messaging, visa thereby supporting female lone traveller reports, and genuine accommodation and escort service options through the local community.

The app will provide access to the Himachal Pradesh Police Dial 112 emergency service, and the Women & Child Development Department 181 Service. The app will help users share their GPS location with their consent and to create their own trusted contacts within the app.

The policy also brings in ‘SheStays,’ a certification for properties that are women-friendly. The aim is to have 2,000 such properties certified by 2028.

Additionally, 12 Gender Responsive Tourism Hubs will be set up across the state, and the aim of the policy is to have at least 40 percent women in tourism-related advisory and governing bodies.

Stakeholders in the tourism sector have been encouraged to make proposals before the policy is finalized.

Mohinder Seth, the president of the Shimla Hotels and Tourism Stakeholders Association, pointed out that some hotels in Shimla are already supportive of women tourists and have mostly female staff. He recommended that adding such hotels to an official website would help to instill confidence in tourists.

The SheTravel policy, if successfully implemented, will be a game-changer in the management of tourism in Himachal Pradesh and will put the state not only on the map as a beautiful destination but also as a leader in the world of safe mountain tourism.