The Hindu Business Line : Legislation for tourism zones to be drafted soon: Kerala Minister

THE State Government will soon introduce a law for the establishment of tourism zones in the State, said Mr K.C. Venugopal, Minister for Tourism, Government of Kerala.

All development activity, especially construction, in these special zones will be strictly regulated, he said.

Kerala's attraction as a tourist destination is due to the State's natural beauty. Therefore, regulation of development activity in the tourism zones will help preserve the State's status as a world-class tourist destination, said Mr Venugopal. In fact, the long-term viability of Kerala's tourism industry depends on the sector's willingness to adopt eco-friendly principles, the minister added.

Inaugurating a seminar on `Eco-Kerala — Kerala Tourism Eco-initiative' in the city on Wednesday, Mr Venugopal stressed that eco-tourism will be an integral component of Kerala tourism's future plans and activities. The department plans to implement a time-bound programme to make all tourism destinations in Kerala eco-friendly, he added.

Given the success of the Thenmala eco-tourism project, the Tourism Department plans to launch more such initiatives, he said. Also on the cards is a scheme to provide incentives to those who implement eco-friendly tourism projects, Mr Venugopal said.

Similarly, the department will soon unveil a campaign to clean up the major tourist destinations in the State, he said.

The minister also announced the launch of `Eco-Kerala', Kerala Tourism's eco-initiative, to make the entire State an eco-friendly tourist destination. As the first step in this initiative, the Tourism Department has introduced an eco-certification scheme for hotels and resorts in the State. In the offing are similar eco-certification programmes for other segments of the tourism industry such as tour operators and destination managers.

Those who participated in the seminar organised as part of the launch of the Eco-Kerala project included Ms J. Chandra, Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, and Mr T.O. Sooraj, Director, Department of Tourism.

The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions that covered subjects such as waste management in the tourism sector, energy management, water conservation and strategies to support local products. The Tourism Department plans to conduct similar seminars in all districts of the State.