Kerala to develop community-based tourism

The Kerala tourism department has initiated a novel approach for comprehensive tourism development aimed at planned/regulated development of the sector.

Emphasising on local, community-based tourism, pilot projects in four districts -- Kasaragode (Bekal, Valiyaparamba region), Kannur (Meenkunnu Beach, Thalassery region), Kottayam (Kumarakom, Aimanam region) and Pathanamthitta (Aranmula, Konni region) -- have already  launched.

Some of the villages in  the north and central Kerala have been identified for carrying out the pilot for which Rs 1 crore has been earmarked. The department has convened a meeting of the local bodies members December 8 in Kannur.

The department plans to develop peculiar culture, lifestyles, heritage and traditional industries of chosen localities into unique tourism products.  Initially, it plans to link sectors like agriculture, fisheries and other traditional industries with tourism initiatives.

 

The project is being implemented by state-owned Tourist Resorts Kerala Limited (TRKL). Based on the pilot, add-on projects will commence in various places to develop special product packages for the tourism sector.

According to TK Manzoor, managing director, TRKL, the company would study and analyse all the existing and ongoing tourism development initiatives and assets in the region. TRKL will soon be restructured as Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited to develop infrastructure projects at tourist centres. He said the company had initiated public-private partnership projects at Veli and Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district. Tourism-based public space development was another initiative of TRKL.