Gitpac to implement Responsible Tourism

Receiving a leg up in its efforts at being a constructive player in the sustainable tourism space in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-based Great India Tourism Planners and Consultants International (Gitpac) has been selected by the state government for implementing the latter’s Responsible Tourism project.

UV Jose, chief operating officer, Gitpac, told Business Standard that “Gitpac has been chosen by the Kerala government to be the implementing partner for Responsible Tourism in the state this year.”

The project is being undertaken by Kerala Tourism on an investment of Rs 45 lakh every year in four locations.

EM Najeeb, who heads the Airtravel Enterprises Group, said the company had already made presentations to the state government on how to go about the project. The four tourist destinations where Gitpac would implement the project are Kovalam, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Wynad. Gitpac is a division of Airtravel Enterprises.

Jose said work had already begun in Kumarakom in this regard. “We have already deployed a dedicated team of Gitpac executives at these four locations and they would be monitored by a central team of the company in the state capital,” he said.

Pointing out that this would be the recently floated Gitpac's most significant initiative since inception, Jose said the company would look at a national level later.

The Responsible Tourism initiatives bank on participation from all areas concerned such as agriculture, community development, hotel industry, and small and medium enterprises.

Kudumbsree projects, which involve an active community role, will be roped in to make people’s participation and help them benefit along with development of tourism in these destinations.