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

Tue Mar 18 15:19:26 IST 2008

i can hardly resist from replying to this email.. why do u guys luk upon
evrything in a negative way.. i am in no way related to the icrt
conference.. but believe that its a good initiative.. lets see what ur major
complaints are:

1. calling it incredible india conference on...

i dont think thats the name.. its the second edition of international conf
on responsible tourism.. http://www.responsibletourism2008.org/

2. holding it in a luxury hotel

where else can u hold conferences with such a lot of international
particiaption

3. registration fee is 5000..

this is a scholarly conference man.. and the conference holders are no
charity workers.. u have to invite international standard speakers, get the
arrangements done etc.. u need money.. i havent seen a scholarly conference
of good stature that can afford to charge less than some 150 USD or so..
this is no charity function.. luk up what scholarly conferences are and
understand that.. even conferences held in CUSAT have regn fees of 2k at
least..

4. kerala is not very responsible in its tourism initiatives..

okay, thats one probable reason as to why we have this conference at all,
rite?

if u dont understand what scholarly or academic conferences are.. check this
out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_conference

thanks
deepak

On Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 8:39 AM, Anivar Aravind <anivar.aravind at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
> *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.
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Deepak P
http://deepakp7.googlepages.com/