Girl power for all, says Planeterra. Image: fanart.tv

Most sisters are doing it for themselves, but some don’t have that privilege. Planeterra says the travel industry can do its bit to ensure women across the world can join the chorus this International Women’s Day. Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin, eat your heart out.

Planeterra, a non-profit organisation dedicated to sustainable community development through travel, believes in the power of tourism to create sustainable travel choices that will ultimately benefit women across the globe.

Women make up half the world’s population, but account for 70 percent of the world’s poor, The Global Poverty Project reports.

“It is widely known that the key to combating poverty is educating and empowering women and girls, and the travel industry has the potential to create lasting change,” Planeterra executive director Paula Vlamings told e-Travel Blackboard.

According to Ms Vlamings, tourism is the world’s second largest employer and allows women access to opportunities in a way other industries do not.

“Through the travel industry, women can start small businesses, work in small stores, hotels and even as guides,” Ms Vlamings said.

The industry must create choices to support women-empowering endeavours and educate the consumer that such choice exists, she added.

“Consumers should ask the companies they travel with about policies that protect women and ask about inappropriate behavior during travel.”

Planeterra was founded by G Adventures' owner and founder, Bruce Poon Tip. It recently launched the Inca Trail Biodegradable Products initiative, which supports a small women-owned business based in Cuzco, Peru, to produce biodegradable soaps, detergents and natural products for use by travellers, porters and cooks on the Inca Trail. The initiative aims to empower young Peruvian women to grow their own business, and also lessen impacts on the Inca Trail.