What’s the first concern that comes to mind if you are a woman traveller and you're planning your next big adventure? The question about safety, right? Amid the rising number of cases related to crime against women in India, it has become increasingly difficult for women to travel solo even when they have the sincere urge to do so. But wait, what if all you obsessive compulsive women travellers find a person who's got that base covered?
32-year-old Rashmi Chadha from Delhi, who is a sports lover and bookworm, is the founder and CEO of Wovoyage, a travel start-up, which provides risk-free and safe trips for female travellers. “I always loved to travel, so I thought I should start a business that made a change in society. After all, tourism contributes to a major part of the GDP in our country,” Rashmi said. As she herself has travelled around the world since she was a child, she said that people in most foreign countries still have a wrong notion about India, “They feel India is not safe, specifically for women, and it is still a country filled with snake charmers,” Rashmi added with a laugh.
What sets their service apart is the provision of services like women guides, safe stays and plenty of little customised bits that will make women feel right at home, “What we are trying to build in our company is the empowerment of women. We have women guides, drivers and we give them proper training before sending them to places with the travelers,” she stated.
Rashmi started her company back in 2016 and has since created and managed trips for hundreds of solo woman travellers as well as handled corporate bookings. Most of her business is conducted over the internet through her website; however, she recently opened an office in Paharganj, which she calls the “Women-friendly travel centre.” She has a varied customer base, ranging from children as young as 7 to women above the age of 40. “We customise trips for solo women travelers, starting from their bookings to their itinerary and we provide 24x7 assistance to all our customers. That’s what makes us special and reliable to all our customers,” Rashmi said. She added that the most sought-after destinations among women include places like Mcleodganj, Varanasi, Agra, and Jaipur.
So there you have it! All you women travelers out there, if you crave a stress-free and hassle-free tour, I guess you have your answer.
