The Hindu Business Line : Kovalam added to Kerala’s responsible tourism initiative

Aimed at ‘creating better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit’, responsible tourism focuses on the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism.

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 Kerala Tourism has launched its responsible tourism initiative in the beach resort of Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram. The State Tourism Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, launched the initiative in Kovalam on Wednesday.

With this, Kovalam becomes the second destination in the State to adopt the responsible tourism concept, the first being Kumarakom.

The concept will be introduced in Thekkady and Wayanad as well.

Aimed at ‘creating better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit’, responsible tourism focuses on the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism. Dr V. Venu, Secretary-Tourism, Government of Kerala, told Business Line that the initiative will initially focus on economic responsibility.

The decision to this effect was taken following a series of workshops, surveys and dialogue with various stakeholders from across Kerala, he added.

In Kovalam, as in Kumarakom, the emphasis is on building micro enterprises, under the aegis of the Kerala’s State Poverty Eradication Mission or Kudumbashree, that use local resources to supply fruits, vegetables, milk and meat to hotels. Kudumbashree women’s self-help groups will form the micro enterprises that supply products to hotels.

Agreements have been inked to supply 22 hotels in Kovalam with 17 items including vegetables, based on the requirements of each hotel, Dr Venu said. The units will also supply baskets and paper bags.

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Kovalam added to Kerala’s responsible tourism initiative