"Trailblazing Sustainable Tourism: Empowering Communities with Vandana Vijay"

Welcome to another inspiring episode of "Women We Watch in Tourism." In today's episode, we have the privilege of featuring Vandana Vijay, an exceptional woman leader who is revolutionizing the travel industry through her commitment to sustainability and community development.

As we all know, tourism plays a significant role in shaping economies and cultural exchanges around the world. However, the growth of this industry has also brought forth environmental and social challenges that need to be addressed. Vandana Vijay, the Founder and CEO of Offbeat Tracks, recognizes the urgent need for a more sustainable approach to tourism and the responsibility of leaders in driving positive change.

Vandana's journey has been defined by her deep passion for sustainable tourism and her unwavering dedication to rural communities, particularly those nestled in the Himalayan mountains. She firmly believes that travel should not only offer unique and immersive experiences but also have a positive impact on the environment and empower local communities.

Through Offbeat Tracks, Vandana has curated over 1000 tours across multiple countries, aligning her company's travel goals with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With a focus on affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, and responsible consumption and production, Vandana's vision extends beyond mere travel experiences. It encompasses a holistic approach that preserves the environment while fostering the growth and development of rural communities.

In this episode, Vandana will share her remarkable journey as a woman leader in the travel industry, breaking through glass ceilings and challenging the norms. She will offer insights into the challenges she faced along the way and how she overcame them with courage and determination. Moreover, Vandana will provide valuable advice for aspiring women leaders in the tourism sector, encouraging them to embrace sustainability, seize opportunities, and make a lasting difference.

Join us as we delve into Vandana Vijay's transformative work, and discover how her fearless leadership is shaping the future of tourism, one sustainable journey at a time. Get ready to be inspired, motivated, and equipped with the tools needed to navigate the challenges of leading sustainable initiatives and creating positive change in the tourism industry.

Vandana Vijay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vandana-vijay-13639061/

In this episode, we discuss:

• Vandana's inspiration and work in developing rural and community-based tourism
• The importance of developing the rural and peripheral areas of a destination through tourism development
• Some of the biggest challenges in developing rural tourism and challenges faced by women in rural community development 
• The Rise of conscious travelers and the Potential for rural tourism development
• Vandana's advice for women who aspire to lead and make a difference in the tourism sector, and how can they navigate the challenges they might encounter along the way 

This podcast is jointly presented by:
Dr. Nisha https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishatourismexpert , Co-founder of World Women Tourism https://www.worldwomentourism.com/
Zinal Doshi, https://www.linkedin.com/in/zinal-doshi   Founder of The Flapper Life: http://theflapperlife.com