The growth of Women Only travel in the Middle East


Maldives
PUBLISHED January 17, 2019

Ever since anyone could remember, the thought of a woman or group of women going on a trip on their own seemed to be the strangest thing. But recently, the trend is changing towards the opposite end of the spectrum, due to the fact that there actually are options for this kind of travel now. Dozens of tour companies are frantically trying to meet the demand and make themselves known in this new niche. Among the most visited destinations for westerners Morocco, Iran, Egypt and Jordan are included.

While the idea is still being accepted there, Middle Eastern Muslim women too are beginning to seek out such travel options. Despite the fact that many Islamic leaders believe it to be against Sharia for women to travel alone without a mahram; a legal male escort that accompanies her during overnight journeys. However, entrepreneurs have resisted religious and social norms by offering females the opportunity to see the world in a brand new way.

Doha-based, Tartebkum Holidays who organize excursions strictly for women and children was founded in 2014 by a Qatari businesswoman, Noura Al Ameri. She was the ones who called for the establishment of tourist facilities in Qatar that are expressly designed for females. "Each tour was designed to uncover the customs, food, challenges and lives of the local women in each country, all the while encouraging female empowerment and showcasing the traditions and routines unique to each culture," the Regional Product Manager for the Middle East at Intrepid Travel, Jenny Gray, told The Media Line.

One of the major advantages of arranging his type of tour is the ability to visit establishments generally inaccessible to a mixed-gender group. Such as the Moroccan city of Marrakech where places like a traditional bathhouse is only open to woman. Or Iran, infamous for its strict gender-segregation rules they tour a female-only park and meet with women entrepreneurs.

"The itineraries, each guided by women, break the barriers of customary tourism in these locales, offering a deeper understanding of female culture in each Middle Eastern nation," Gray proclaimed. "The trips expose female travellers to a range of fascinating local women—young, old, religious, conservative, rural, modern and liberal—while respecting traditional cultural values."

Many of Intrepids latest offers, which coincide with International Womans Day in March, are being sought after, and there are currently various itineraries already scheduled in 2019 and 2020.

For example, the trips to Iran retail anywhere from $2310 for a 9-day jaunt to $4550 for a 16-day cycling adventure throughout the country (none of the prices include airfare).

The goal of increasing these kinds of travel options is to provide female travelers worth the opportunity to explore previously unseen territory, and also to empower local women.

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