Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

No tourism SEZs on Government land

Staff Reporter

`Projects to lay stress on conservation'

Thiruvananthapuram: Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will not be created in the tourism sector in the State by acquiring Government land, Minister for Tourism and Home Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said here on Friday.

Inaugurating a two-day workshop on `Responsible Tourism — Better together' at the Kanakakunnu Palace here, Mr. Kodiyeri said the creation of SEZs would be considered if private parties having large tracts of land approach the State Government.

The Minister said the Government would change the rules relating to acquisition of land for tourism projects in the State. Those displaced would be rehabilitated near the site.

The land needed for rehabilitating them would also be acquired. At least, one member of each family that hands over land for development of tourism would be given a job in the project.

The Government would work out a scheme with the cooperation of local bodies and Kudumbasree units to ensure that the benefits of development of tourism sector reach the locals, he said adding that income from the tourism sector in the State was expected to touch Rs.10,000 crore this financial year, up from Rs. 7,300 crore in the last fiscal.

He said the Government would not sanction tourism projects that create environment problems. Tourism development will be taken up by ensuring conservation of nature. "The future of Kerala Tourism depends on greenery."

Mr. Kodiyeri said tourism should be extended beyond the major tourism spots of Kovalam, Kumarakom and Kochi.

Local bodies would be roped in for tourism development and 10 tourist centres would be developed this financial year.

He said the impression that tourism was for the affluent class should be changed. Stating that labourers need rest and leisure, he said a culture should be created to ensure that the labour class spends money for tourism.

Tie-up planned

Mr. Kodiyeri said Kerala Tourism would tie up with the Department of Culture to attract tourists through art and cultural forms. Awareness would be created to ensure that locals, taxi and autorickshaw drivers behaved well with tourists. The police have been asked to enhance security arrangements in all tourist spots in the State.

Professor of Responsible Tourism Management, Metropolitan University, Leed, U.K, Harold Goodwin made a presentation `Responsible Tourism in destinations: A global perspective.' He stressed the need to build partnerships that bring to the international and national market places tourism experiences that reflect the characteristics of destination involving local communities and giving them a degree of control of hosts.

"It means different things in different places and only the people of Kerala can define it. A big opportunity awaits Kerala and all stake-holders should take responsibility," he said. Responsible Tourism is not a blue print. It is a diverse movement of people in originating markets and destination working to make better forms of tourism, Dr. Goodwin added.

Chairman of KTDC Cherian Philip and Secretary of Tourism V. Venu spoke. Legislators, tour operators, representatives of local bodies and tourism industry, Kudumbasree units and NGOs are participating in the workshop.

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