The Hindu Business Line : Kerala village tourism development scheme launched

Greater emphasis
The scheme is intended to involve local communities in the planning and implementation of tourism projects.
140 villages will be selected for assistance under the scheme this year.

Thiruvananthapuram June 6 The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, has launched Kerala Tourism's village tourism development scheme. Called `My Village, A Tourism Friendly Village', the initiative is part of an attempt to decentralise tourism development in the State.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Mr Achuthanandan said that tourism development in Kerala requires small, decentralised projects on the lines of the `My Village, A Tourism Friendly Village' scheme. Tourism development is not about building concrete jungles, he emphasised.

Domestic Tourism

People who say that the State Government's demolition of encroachments, particularly resorts, in Munnar would adversely impact Kerala's tourism sector do not know anything about tourism, he declared. Greater emphasis must be given to domestic tourism, he added. To be run as a joint venture between the tourism department and the local self-government department, the `My Village, A Tourism Friendly Village' scheme is intended to involve local communities in the planning and implementation of tourism projects. Under the scheme, resources will be allocated to local self-government institutions to design and implement tourism projects. Projects that will be supported under this scheme include development of basic amenities in places of natural interest, expansion of village squares, adventure tourism products, preservation of heritage properties and heritage areas and so on.

Financial Assistance

According to the Kerala Tourism Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, 140 villages will be selected for assistance under the scheme this year. The scheme will help take tourism related activities to all parts of the State, he added. Kerala Tourism will provide financial assistance to the extent of 50 per cent of the cost of each project subject to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh. The remaining funds will have to be mobilised by the local self-government institutions. However, roads to tourist centres will not be eligible for support under the scheme. Similarly, the cost of obtaining land for tourism projects will also not be considered under the scheme.