Seminar on Responsible Tourism

The future of the tourism business is 'ethical' and that is the way for Kerala to stay ahead of the curve, a senior bureaucrat said here today.
Speakingat Kerala Tourism Mart's Responsible Tourism seminar, Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, India Tourism, said "Kerala has done so well because it can create experiences that are close to the earth."
Billa, who was instrumental in promoting the Responsible Tourism initiative in Kerala as the state's then tourism secretary, said, "as a destination, the way forward is to develop unique experiences by staying on the agenda of Responsible Tourism."
In the first phase, it was started in Kumarakom, Thekkady, Vythiri and Kovalam, and later Ambalavayal, Bekal and Kumbalangi.

Permissions are now in place to extend the programme to other destinations.
Commending the state for its award-winning Responsible Tourism initiatives, Billa said, "The tourism sector can only move forward by including the local people and empowering local communities."
"We did a study on local purchases in Kumarakom and after eight years of starting the Responsible Tourism initiative, Rs 1.5 crore per annum in purchase orders were made in vegetables, dairy, eggs and other things," said Rupesh, State Coordinator, Responsible Tourism.
"We are generating Rs four crore income through responsible tourism initiatives in the seven destinations, and though it does not seem like much, it directly benefits the local community," he said.