The Hindu : Kerala News : State emerges as a premier tourist destination

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Sunday, Nov 05, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

State emerges as a premier tourist destination

K. Venkiteswaran

National Geographic Traveller has listed it as a `must-see' destination

Kerala has scored an ace in tourism promotion and in the Golden Jubilee year of the State's formation, it can rightly take pride in emerging as a premier destination, sought after by both the domestic tourists and the footloose foreign traveller.

Kerala has several firsts to add glory to its tourism hat. It is already famous for the quality of the tourism experience it offers. From the beauty of its natural environment to cultural diversity, Kerala is truly God's Own Country giving as it were on a platter to the pleasure-seeking jaded minds an opportunity to experience ethnic flavours in a pristine form.

Consider this: National Geographic Traveller has listed Kerala as one of the 50 `must-see' destinations of a lifetime. Kerala tourism is growing at a pace unparalleled to any other State in the country and in fact, is the fastest-growing tourist destination in the world surpassing Turkey at an annual growth rate of 11 per cent.

Of course, all these come at a price. Is the fragile ecosystem of Kerala capable of withstanding a heavy onslaught of tourists of diverse cultural background? Will Kerala go the Goa way or is there a threat of `sex tourism' obliterating the finer traits of Malayali ethos?

There are concerned voices being raised on these scores and a State which thrives on controversies and polemics, there are as many views as there are proponents.

Responsible Tourism

Now the buzzword in fashionable circuits is Responsible Tourism. The focus is on sustainable development of the tourist centres. The authorities are aware that as tourism grows and the big investors are attracted to the Kerala coast, efforts should be made to maintain the essential character of the land and the State not to lose its distinctiveness.

Hence all the more reason why the right kind of visitor should make his footfall in the sandy beaches, Ayurvedic centres and the heritage spots that dot the tiny State.

According to an official publication, Responsible Tourism is about people taking responsibility for making tourism more sustainable for everyone involved - hoteliers and tour operators, airlines and coach operators, Government and trade associations, travellers and holiday-makers. Responsible Tourism is about taking responsibility for improving tourism; for each group doing what it can to make tourism sustainable for contributing making Kerala " a better place to live in and a better place to visit."

The tourism sector is now providing employment to more than 7,00,000 people and the Tourism Department have kept a target of Rs.1,00,000 million revenue for the year 2006.

With the tremendous growth potential of Kerala tourism, the concept behind Responsible Tourism should be that all stake holders involved - holiday-makers, tour operators, property owners, local and State governments - need to take responsibilities for achieving what they can toward economically, socially and environmentally sustainable tourism.

Kumbalanghi cameo

The honour of being the first eco-friendly tourist village in India goes to

Kumbalanghi, a tiny village facing the Kochi backwaters. It was due to the efforts of the committed promoters here that Kumbalanghi shot into national fame.

An artist's village has taken shape here. Set up on four acres, this village displays handicrafts and fishing equipment. The country canoes provide the ideal transport for the city-bred tourists who go to raptures on high tides taking eyeful sights of fish in zany motion. Some `homestays' are provided for those who want to have the real feel of the village life.

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