www.keralatourism.org role of government in making sustainable destinations role of government in...

www.keralatourism.org

Role of Government in MakingSustainable Destinations

Role of Government in MakingSustainable Destinations

Learning from Kerala RT Initiatives Learning from Kerala RT Initiatives

U V JOSEKerala Tourism


U V JOSEKerala Tourism



Presentation FocusPresentation Focus

• Kerala Government’s response to RT initiatives

• Things learned

• Roles of State and Local Governments

• Kerala Government’s response to RT initiatives

• Things learned

• Roles of State and Local Governments


KeralaKerala

• A small state in the southern tip of India, known as ‘God’s Own Country’ in tourism circle

• Area - 38,863 Sq.km.

• Population - 33.30 million

• Literacy - 94%

• A small state in the southern tip of India, known as ‘God’s Own Country’ in tourism circle

• Area - 38,863 Sq.km.

• Population - 33.30 million

• Literacy - 94%


Tourism in KeralaTourism in Kerala

• Relatively new entrant - only 25 years in tourism development

• Beaches, Backwaters, Hill stations, Heritage and Culture as major attractions

• Houseboats and Ayurveda as USPs

• 650,000 international and 8.5 million domestic tourists

• 12 lakh employment

• <6% contribution to GDP

• Relatively new entrant - only 25 years in tourism development

• Beaches, Backwaters, Hill stations, Heritage and Culture as major attractions

• Houseboats and Ayurveda as USPs

• 650,000 international and 8.5 million domestic tourists

• 12 lakh employment

• <6% contribution to GDP


Tourism and CommunityTourism and Community

• General consensus on potential of tourism and its significance as a key contributor to the sustainable development of the state

• Vibrant tourism industry - number of best practices• Resort - CGH Earth• Ayurveda - Poomulli Mana• Homestay - Olappamanna Mana• Houseboats - ATDC• Tour Operator - Intersight with ‘Sarathi

Sauhrudam’

• General consensus on potential of tourism and its significance as a key contributor to the sustainable development of the state

• Vibrant tourism industry - number of best practices• Resort - CGH Earth• Ayurveda - Poomulli Mana• Homestay - Olappamanna Mana• Houseboats - ATDC• Tour Operator - Intersight with ‘Sarathi

Sauhrudam’


Unfavourable situations Unfavourable situations

• Apprehensions of the community as benefits of tourism are not reaching them

• Negative socio-cultural and environmental impacts

• Tourism development remained with Top to Down approach with ‘State Government at the Top and Tourism industry at the Bottom with no role to local governments and community

• The above situations led to Industry-Community conflicts at all major destinations

• Apprehensions of the community as benefits of tourism are not reaching them

• Negative socio-cultural and environmental impacts

• Tourism development remained with Top to Down approach with ‘State Government at the Top and Tourism industry at the Bottom with no role to local governments and community

• The above situations led to Industry-Community conflicts at all major destinations


Government intervention throughRT Initiatives in Kerala


• Started with stakeholder-brainstorming workshop - ‘Better Together’

• Decided to take up 4 pilot destinations - Kumarakom, Kovalam, Thekkady and Wayanad

• Formed Institutional mechanism:

• State Level RT Committee and Working Groups for strategy and guidance

• Destination Level RT Committees and Working Groups for implementation

• Started with stakeholder-brainstorming workshop - ‘Better Together’

• Decided to take up 4 pilot destinations - Kumarakom, Kovalam, Thekkady and Wayanad

• Formed Institutional mechanism:

• State Level RT Committee and Working Groups for strategy and guidance

• Destination Level RT Committees and Working Groups for implementation




• Focus was on economic responsibility - local procurement

• Destination level initiatives led local panchayat

• All 4 destinations gave varied results

• Kumarakom initiative created new model

• Focus was on economic responsibility - local procurement

• Destination level initiatives led local panchayat

• All 4 destinations gave varied results

• Kumarakom initiative created new model


Kumarakom SuccessKumarakom Success

• Replicable systems and tools supporting local procurement process

• Proactive roles of local government and other stakeholders

• Supply of more than 40 local items to hotels

• Sale of local products worth US$ 100,000 in last 2 years

• Conversion of 168 acres waste and uncultivated land into vegetable farms

• Replicable systems and tools supporting local procurement process

• Proactive roles of local government and other stakeholders

• Supply of more than 40 local items to hotels

• Sale of local products worth US$ 100,000 in last 2 years

• Conversion of 168 acres waste and uncultivated land into vegetable farms


Kumarakom SuccessKumarakom Success

• More than 25 Kudumbasree units with 750 women involved and benefited

• More than 20 local enterprises including local handicraft units

• 10 Farmers’ groups and 500 homestead farming units

• 1/3 rd of the household benefits

• More than 25 Kudumbasree units with 750 women involved and benefited

• More than 20 local enterprises including local handicraft units

• 10 Farmers’ groups and 500 homestead farming units

• 1/3 rd of the household benefits


Result of Kumarakom initiativeResult of Kumarakom initiative

• Reduced industry-community conflicts

• Community aware on the potential of tourism for their socio-economic development

• New role to local panchayats in tourism development

• Reduced industry-community conflicts

• Community aware on the potential of tourism for their socio-economic development

• New role to local panchayats in tourism development


Things learned from the Pilot RT LabsThings learned from the Pilot RT Labs

• RT principles can be effectively used for making destinations sustainable

• There has to be 2 specific initiatives from the Government side

• Promoting and facilitating enterprises that are practicing RT principles

• Facilitating destination level RT initiatives linking community to industry

• RT principles can be effectively used for making destinations sustainable

• There has to be 2 specific initiatives from the Government side

• Promoting and facilitating enterprises that are practicing RT principles

• Facilitating destination level RT initiatives linking community to industry


Specific Roles of Government inPromoting Enterprises - Kerala Experiences


• Clearly defining RT with measurable indicators - State Government

• Sustainable Management plan (200 points)

• Economic (250 points)

• Socio-cultural (250 points)

• Environment (300 points)

• Clearly defining RT with measurable indicators - State Government

• Sustainable Management plan (200 points)

• Economic (250 points)

• Socio-cultural (250 points)

• Environment (300 points)

Lead Role: State Government




• RT Classification System - in line with GSTC - State Government

• Platinum (750 -1000)

• Gold (600 - 750) and

• Silver (500 - 600)

• RT Classification System - in line with GSTC - State Government

• Platinum (750 -1000)

• Gold (600 - 750) and

• Silver (500 - 600)





• Incentives linking to RT classification - State Government

• Investment subsidy - 15%

• 10% additional subsidy for local procurement

• Power and water tariff concessions for environment responsibility adherence

• Incentives linking to RT classification - State Government

• Investment subsidy - 15%

• 10% additional subsidy for local procurement

• Power and water tariff concessions for environment responsibility adherence





• Recognising ambassadors - State Government

• Awards for best performers

• Enabling local procurement and helping local enterprises - State & Local Government

• Destination level RT initiative

• Recognising ambassadors - State Government

• Awards for best performers

• Enabling local procurement and helping local enterprises - State & Local Government

• Destination level RT initiative





• Providing local employment - State & Local Government

• Enforcement of guidelines

• Capacity building

• Providing local employment - State & Local Government

• Enforcement of guidelines

• Capacity building





• Marketing support - State Government

• Promotion of destinations and RT classified enterprises

• Promote local tour packages - Village life Experience

• Marketing support - State Government

• Promotion of destinations and RT classified enterprises

• Promote local tour packages - Village life Experience



Specific Roles of Government inDestination level RT initiatives - Kerala Experience


• Preparing broader frameworks and guidelines - State Government

• Awareness creation and building capacity of stakeholders - State Government

• Baseline studies on tourism resources and products - Local Government

• Status studies on economic, social and environmental aspects - Local Government

• Preparing broader frameworks and guidelines - State Government

• Awareness creation and building capacity of stakeholders - State Government

• Baseline studies on tourism resources and products - Local Government

• Status studies on economic, social and environmental aspects - Local Government

Lead Role: Local Government




• Planning and developing projects supporting RT initiative - Local Government

• Institutionalizing systems and tools - Local Government

• Industry coordination - State and Local Government

• Acting as a mediator between various stakeholders - State & Local Government

• Planning and developing projects supporting RT initiative - Local Government

• Institutionalizing systems and tools - Local Government

• Industry coordination - State and Local Government

• Acting as a mediator between various stakeholders - State & Local Government





• Supervision and monitoring - State & Local Government

• Bring in regulatory measures - State & Local Government

• Enforcement mechanisms to adopt sustainable practices - Local Government

• Supervision and monitoring - State & Local Government

• Bring in regulatory measures - State & Local Government

• Enforcement mechanisms to adopt sustainable practices - Local Government



Kerala Experience reinstatesthe vital role of local government in making

tourism destinations sustainable.

Kerala Experience reinstatesthe vital role of local government in making

tourism destinations sustainable.


Thank YouThank You

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Documents

tourism circle area

roles of state

small state

rt initiatives things

tourism development

southern tip of india

hill stations

major attractions houseboats