[Reader-list] Kerala - Convention on Irresponsible Tourism in Kerala

[Anivar Aravind]

*Convention on Irresponsible Tourism in Kerala*
==============================================
*Date: 22nd March 2008, 9.30 am*
*/Venue:/** Achuthamenon Hall, Near Public Library, Near Shenoy's Theatre*
*Eranakulam.*
-----------------------------------------------




Dear Friends,



For the past two decades, Department of Tourism and tourism industry in
Kerala have been promoting Kerala tourism with various jargons such as
"Eco-Tourism", "Sustainable Tourism", etc. There is no exception for
"Responsible Tourism". The present 'mantra' of Kerala Tourism is being
introduced in the state as a solution for 'everything'.


But a closer look at the recent developments will give an insight into
the present realities of Kerala Tourism. The "Responsible Tourism"
initiative of Kerala Tourism is not participatory as they claim and
keeping away local communities from the discussion. The current
discussions are not addressing the concerns of affected population which
needs urgent and immediate actions to stop the damages of tourism. At
the same time, the present discussions initiated by Kerala Tourism are
misleading the discussions and debates. They are aimed at marketing
Kerala Tourism abroad without changing or addressing the fundamental
issues here.


Kerala Tourism and International Centre for Responsible Tourism – India
(ICRT) in cooperation with 'Incredible India' are organizing "Incredible
India Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in
Destinations". It is* *to be held from 21st – 24th* *March 2007 in
Kochi, Kerala. This conference is advertised and propagated in a big
manner both nationally and internationally.* *

According to the organizers, the Conference will be a key global
initiative to help the tourism industry and all its stakeholders to
discuss and debate important developments in the field. The "efforts" of
Kerala Tourism in this direction will also be explored at the
conference. The conference will also "reflect on Kerala's experience of
working towards being a Responsible Tourism destination and to share it
internationally".



But there is a very evident contradiction in the way they are organizing
the conference and its promises. The conference excludes very important
stakeholders from the discussions. It is an event for elites held at a
luxury hotel. The registration fee for the conference is a testimony for
this. Even the reduced fee is equivalent to Indian Rupees 5,000, which
is still beyond the reach of majority of local 'stakeholders'.



The programme schedule of the conference advertised "Mararikulam as an
emerging beach destination". But the present reality in this area shows
that the conference organizers underestimate the socio-cultural and
economic impact of tourism on local communities. While they say
"Mararikulam is about one local entrepreneur kick starting a
destination. It is also about the emerging opportunities for the local
community", the experience of the local community is quite different.
Tourism in this area has caused a real estate boom and the local
entrepreneur mentioned has set a trend which resulted in market induced
displacement of fisher folk from the area.



There is no paradigm shift in the way Kerala is developing its tourism
sector. The current discussions are just a hype to change the fading
images of Kerala tourism and portray it as a responsible destination in
the international market.



Neither the conference nor the "Responsible Tourism" initiative in the
state addresses any of the serious problems of the so called "Kerala
Model Tourism Development" in its agenda. At the same time, this ill
affected model demonstrates how unregulated and weak policies have
facilitated unsustainable tourism development in the state which
alienated the local population especially the marginalized from their
peaceful life and livelihood. Kerala Tourism is pretending that the
initiative is partipatory but at the same time they are strategically
excluding local communities from the conference and discussions to hide
the fundamental issues raised by them from the international community.



This state of affairs convinced *Kerala Tourism Watch *to facilitate a
convention against the malpractices of Kerala tourism and against
proclaiming it as "Responsible Tourism. The Convention will take place
on 22^nd March 2008 at Achuthamenon Hall (Near Public Library),
Eranakulam where we will get to raise our voice and bring more attention
to the issues raised by the civil society of Kerala.



The convention will be a broad platform of civil society organizations
and people's movements to discuss and critically analyze the present
tourism trends, tourism practices in the state. Participation is free,
of course. No participation fee!



We request you to be part of the convention and our efforts to unveil
Kerala tourism's ill affected tourism practices and hidden agendas.

  Please send your suggestions, comments and feed back to: 
tourismwatch.kerala at gmail.com <mailto:tourismwatch.kerala at gmail.com>

  In Solidarity

Kerala Tourism Watch

  Robin, Keralaeeyam, Thrissur - Ph: + 91 9446576943

Geo Jose, Ph: + 91 9446000701


* *About Kerala Tourism Watch**

Kerala Tourism Watch is an informal coalition of civil society activists 
and local communities to respond to the threats and challenges posed by 
exploitative and undemocratic tourism practices in Kerala that upset 
people's livelihood and cause cultural, environmental, economic and 
social maladies that the Government is unable to control.

  Kerala is a state in Indian Union known for its remarkable 
achievements in social sectors such as health and education based on 
decades of social mobilization and political articulation of oppressed 
castes and communities in the 19th and 20th centuries. A vibrant and 
vigilant civil society has been the hall mark of the state which has 
forced successive governments belonging to the centrist and left 
persuasions to make progressive legislations, implement social security 
programmes and democratize institutional structures and procedures 
within the confines of the dependency relations of the productive 
sectors to national and international labour and commodities markets.

  Right from the 1980s when Hotel Industry in the state, supported by 
the government policies and bureaucratic intermediation, began an 
aggressive campaign to market Kerala as a tourism destination, civil 
society groups and social movements have raised concerns about its 
harmful impacts on the social, economic, cultural and environmental 
fronts. The history of civil society activism in Kerala in the last few 
decades is marked also by the strong presence of oppositional voices 
against the unjust and undemocratic nature of tourism practices in the 
state.

  Local communities in Kerala who are seriously affected by the 
exploitative tourism development in the state are now on the brink of a 
social, environmental and cultural breakdown as their rights to 
livelihood is threatened in an unprecedented manner by state policies 
mandating reactionary legislations, forced and market mediated evictions 
and  increasing economic and cultural marginalization.  Local 
communities are loosing their land, jobs and indigenous cultures as a 
result of the assaults of commercial tourism.

  As a collective, Kerala Tourism Watch believes that Kerala 
Government's Tourism Department has been long ignoring the demands 
raised by local communities and civil society organizations for a 
democratized and equitable tourism development in the state. The 
Department has been ridiculously vocal in its rhetorical assertions 
about practicing ecotourism, responsible tourism, participatory tourism 
etc., -the buzzwords of the day. The reality is however, is that the 
fundamental practices of mass commercial tourism remains the same 
irrespective of the catchy names appropriated by the department for 
marketing Kerala as a global destination. Even the pathetic pastiche 
'God's Own Country' is nothing more than a public relations stunt. 
Kerala tourism, obviously, has a long way to go in achieving basic goals 
of transparency, accountability and responsiveness.

  At a time when Indigenous people, fishing communities, local 
populations and civil society groups are engaged in relentless struggles 
against irresponsible tourism development and policies of the 
Governments and the tourism Department in the state, we understand that 
documentation and campaign support are crucially important for the 
success of the movements. Kerala Tourism Watch will hence, attempt to 
update information on the campaigns, movements, policies, networks and 
every possible aspect of societal impacts of tourism in the state.