The Hindu Business Line : `Kerala can be leader in sustainable tourism'

KERALA has the potential to become a leader in sustainable tourism, especially in Asia, according to Ms Megan Epler Wood of eco-tourism consultancy, Epler Wood International.

Internationally, the State is perceived to be an emerging leader in sustainable tourism. Measures such as the creation of a separate Eco-tourism Department in the State Government and the large number of eco-tourism projects that have been launched in the State have helped establish Kerala's credentials as a possible leader in sustainable tourism, she said.

Ms Wood, who is the founder and past president of The International Ecotourism Society, also said that the development of sustainable tourism in Asia suffers from a lack of leadership.

Kerala has the potential to take on this leadership role if ventures such as the proposed eco-tourism development centre at the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS) in Thiruvananthapuram take off.

The proposed eco-tourism centre is intended to serve as a resource for the South Asian region and will offer specialised training programmes in eco-tourism. It will also conduct research in the field of eco-tourism and offer consultancy services.

Such a facility will provide the academic and policy inputs required to encourage the growth of sustainable tourism and drive tourism investments, she said.

The proposed eco-tourism research and training centre at KITTS has already evoked a lot of interest with international donor agencies and academic institutions across the world, according to her.

Ms Wood also said that Costa Rica has adopted a similar strategy, driven by research and education, and is today acknowledged as a world leader in sustainable tourism, with significant investments flowing into the tourism sector. "Kerala can become the Costa Rica of Asia."