BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 7 SEPTEMBER 2022
Mr Harold Goodwin, Jury Chairman of the World Tourism Market and Founder of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, said Kerala and Barcelona are the two leading destinations for Responsible Tourism (RT) in the world.
‘The Father of Responsible Tourism’ visited Maravanthuruthu, Kumarakom and Kozhikode to review the activities undertaken by the RT Mission in Kerala. Mr Goodwin said the two destinations have a lot of similarities like strong democratic local government and transparency.
He appreciated the theme-based streets which were implemented in places, including Maravanthuruthu. Such projects widen the scope of tourism activities by reducing the rush at main places.
He visited Maravanthuruthu and took stock of the street tourism project. Mr Goodwin went around the village, saw Art and Water Streets, and witnessed the staging of art forms such as Garudan Thookkam, Kolkkali and Vattakkali. The Jury Chairman of the World Travel Market also visited Beypore and Kozhikode and reviewed the RT mission activities.
AN ART STREET TO COME UP AT MARAVANTHURUTHU:
A 2-km long art street will come up at Maravanthuruthu, which has opened the state’s first-ever water street for tourists. Tourists will get a chance to see the vibrant culture of Kerala’s murals splashed across the concrete walls.
The drawings will portray the flora and fauna, history, folklore, art forms, festivals, and traditional jobs, which include toddy tapping, of Kerala. Painting camps have been organised and artists will vivify compound walls and houses, adding colour and vibrancy to them. The artists are mobilised for free through Captains Social Foundation, a youth-led social enterprise.
Kerala, situated in the southern part of Peninsular India, is widely known for its salubrious climate, backwaters, Ayurveda, splendid beaches as well as its rich history and heritage. The abundant natural and cultural wealth, along with its educated and hospitable people, forms the basis of the State’s vibrant tourism industry. Realising the tremendous potential of tourism, the development paradigms and the need for promoting it along sustainable lines, an action programme for practising Responsible Tourism (RT) was developed in 2007 involving elected representatives, NGOs, policymakers, industry practitioners, community leaders, social activists, environmentalists, media persons, academicians and other tourism stakeholders. It was decided to practise RT by giving due weightage to social, economic and environmental aspects, with the cooperation and support of all the stakeholders in the tourism business.
In 2008, the Responsible Tourism initiative was implemented on a pilot basis in four destinations across the State, covering diverse geographical regions namely- Kovalam (beach), Kumarakom (Backwaters), Thekkady (Wildlife) and Wayanad (Hill station). The action plan for practising RT was developed in a participatory framework and implemented through a consultative process, keeping in consideration the basic tenets of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria.
The preparatory stage of the first phase involved scientific assessment of the daily requirements of hotels, resorts, accommodation establishments and other service providers in tourism. Concurrently, a tourism resource mapping of the locality was done to identify areas where the community can get suitably involved in the tourism business. This was followed by a sensitisation programme for the local community and industry to accept and practise RT in the larger interest of the society, tourists and tourism business. By initiating a participatory approach in tourism, RT was able to create better places for people to live in and visit.
Responsible Tourism Mission :
(Making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit)
RT Mission is the nodal agency formed by the Government of Kerala to spread and implement the ideologies and initiatives of Responsible Tourism all over the State. Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala launched the Responsible Tourism Mission on 20th October 2017. The Mission is envisaged with a ‘triple-bottom-line’ mission which comprises economic, social and environmental responsibilities. Making tourism a tool for the development of village and local communities, eradicating poverty and giving emphasis to women empowerment are the main aims of the Responsible Tourism Mission. The mission aspires to provide an additional income and a better livelihood to farmers, traditional artisans, and marginalized people along with creating a social and environmental equilibrium.
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