The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Exempt tourism from hartals, says Kodiyeri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Exempt tourism from hartals, says Kodiyeri

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Home and Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said here on Saturday that the tourism sector should be exempted from hartals.

The Minister was replying to a question at a press conference on hardships caused to tourists. Mr. Balakrishnan said a tourism culture needed to be evolved in the State so that tourists would have only pleasant experiences in Kerala.

He announced that ‘destination management development councils’ would be formed to oversee the growth of tourism destinations. Plans were under preparation for implementation of the Kerala Tourism Conservation and Preservation of Areas Act.

Secretary (Tourism) V. Venu said protection of common property resources would be one of the points to be covered at the second international conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations to be held in Kochi from March 21 to 24. (This assumes importance in view of encroachment of beaches, backwaters, rivers and government land in tourism destinations.) A ‘Kerala Declaration’ on responsible tourism would be presented on the concluding day of the conference. The Minister said more than 100 delegates from 20 countries, including the U.K., Germany, Gambia, South Africa, Malaysia and Sri Lanka would attend the conference. Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni will inaugurate the conference.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala