KOLLAM: Call it a major bid to provide a new dimension to the tourism sector. Carrying the broad message of ‘God’s Own Country, People’s Own Tourism’, the Department of Tourism is gearing up to introduce a Responsible Tourism Mission (RTM) across the state. While the idea was pitched in July, officers say the government gave administrative sanction for the same the other day. It’s said the introduction of novel initiatives like Responsible Tourism (RT) ethnic food fest, RT art and cultural forum, tourism resource mapping among others will become a part of the programme.
“The key point of RTM will be the enhancement of community-level tourism activities and tourism-trade-community level linkages,” an officer with the Tourism Directorate told Express. “As part of its introduction, we are now planning to conduct workshops for LSGs and other stakeholders along with capacity building and training programmes.”
“Adequate training to various stakeholders like community members, local bodies, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and others is needed for making RT initiatives more effective and result-oriented. Other major initiatives to be taken under RTM include the introduction of new tourism packages and programmes like Village Life Experience Package, RT International Conference and Summit and Kerala RT Network,” he said.
RTM comes with three major projects - Clean Vembanad Initiative, Waste-Free Ashtamudi Programme and PEPPER (People’s Participation for Participatory Planning and Empowerment through RT). Experts say such initiatives will bring in community participation and yield the desired results.
Earlier, the Tourism Directorate had found several anomalies in the way the RT initiative was operating in the state. Noting RT was limited to eight tourist destinations in the state, it also found the lack of a formal setup was spoiling the very concept.
“Earlier, RT initiatives were limited to eight tourist destinations and were implemented more or less on a project basis by the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies. With the introduction of RTM, a change is on the cards as it will come under the direct control of the Tourism Director. Also, the creation of an RT School for supporting academic and research activities in the field of responsible tourism is expected to bring in remarkable changes,” said the officer.
The state first introduced RT in 2007
It was limited to only eight tourist destinations - Kumarakom, Thekkady, Kovalam, Vythiri, Kumbalangi, Ambalavayal, Bekal and Muziris
Rs 4.50 crore is the total outlay of RTM to be implemented state-wide
RT initiative to usher in
More job opportunities for local community members
Innovation in tourism products
Art and culture protection
Protection of traditional livelihood activities
Women empowerment
Empowerment of backward communities and weaker sections