[Reader-list] Media release on ‘Irresponsible Tourism Convention’

[Anivar Aravind]

*Media release on 'Irresponsible Tourism Convention'*

Kochi: 22/03/2008: Civil society organizations and representatives of
people's movements from various parts of Kerala, India organized a protest
march against Kerala's irresponsible tourism practices and held a parallel
people's Convention at Achuthamenon Hall, Eranakulam on 'Irresponsible
Tourism' under the banner of Kerala Tourism Watch. They made their strong
protest against the irresponsible practices of Kerala Tourism. The groups
made their reservations against the non participatory nature of the present
Responsible Tourism initiative of Kerala Tourism. This convention was a
response to the International Conference on Responsible Tourism held on 21st– 24
th at Le Meridien in Kochi organized by Kerala Tourism and International
Centre for Responsible Tourism- India. Geo Jose made an introductory speech
and welcomed the gathering.

"Real Stakeholders distanced from Responsible Tourism"

Justice K.P.Radha Krishna Menon inaugurated the Convention. In his speech he
pointed out that "five Star International Responsible Tourism conference in
Kochi without involving real stake holders and common people will only come
out with decisions favoring big players".

Kerala Tourism branding itself as Responsible Tourism is just a marketing
gimmick while it is not making any attempt to ameliorate the damages created
by its own harmful and irresponsible tourism practices. He reminded the
Government that irresponsibility can never become responsible if it is given
official sanction by the bureaucrats. Civil society and judiciary can act
against this since this is a clear violation of the Constitution.

C.R Neelakandan a noted environmentalist and social activist who was
moderating the technical session pointed out the fact that the tax revenue
collected from tourism by the state government is less than the budgetary
allocation made for tourism. He stressed the need for a periodical social
auditing of tourism development in the state.

"*Department of Tourism producing baseless statistics of Growth"*

Sri.Saroop Roy (Equations, Bangalore) said that the role of Local Self
Governments (LSG) is curtailed by an act passed by Kerala Legislative
assembly called Kerala Tourism (Conservation and preservation of areas) act
2005.According to the act the role of the LSGs is limited to looking in to
whether the decisions made by a high level bureaucratic committee is
followed in their jurisdiction. Equations pointed out that Tourism industry
and department of tourism are producing baseless statistics and growth rate
for getting more fund allocation and benefits for tourism industry.

Sri.Sumesh Mangalassery (KABANI – the other direction) said that the recent
activity of Kerala Tourism shows that there are no fundamental changes in
the way department is developing tourism within the state. He pointed out
that while sidelining social and environment responsibility and giving
importance to economic responsibility the role of the local people is just
limited as suppliers of vegetables. The proposed construction of an
artificial reef in Kovalam with Tsunami Rehabilitation Fund was not
consulted with the Destination Level Responsible Tourism Committee formed
under the Responsible Tourism initiative. Then what is the rationale of such
committees he asked.


 "*Responsible tourism- a Globalization Agenda"*

Magline Peter from the Coastal Fisherwomen Forum said that there is no space
for local communities especially the marginalized for voicing their concerns
over tourism projects and to be involved in the planning process.
Sainudheen, President of Solidarity Youth Movement pointed out that
Responsible Tourism initiative is part of the globalization agenda.

The speakers representing various organizations, civil society and people's
movements such as M.N.Giri (Kerala Congress Secular), Sreekumar (Janakeeya
Prathirodha Samithi) Yesudas Varapuzha (Periyar Malineekarana Samithi),
Robin (Keraleeyam), Elias, Gopinathan (KSSP), P.L.John Kutty, Fr. Prasanth
spoke on the occasion and raised their concerns regarding the noe-liberal
economic paradigm that underlies Kerala Tourism's responsible tourism
initiative. They emphasized that the initiative yet another move to cover up
the growing maladies of Kerala Tourism such as child sex, marginalization
and displacement of the poor, destruction of people's livelihood in the name
of tourism development and eroticization and feminization of women's work.

Representatives of 15 organisations and many individuals attended the
conference and cautioned Kerala Tourism for more protests if government is
not addressing the concerns of affected people.A draft Kerala Civil society
declaration on responsible tourism presented in the convention and will be
released on 24th thorugh a media conference at Eranakulam.


 *Protest March to the Venue of International Responsible Tourism Conference
*

Earlier in the day local community leaders and civil society activists
marched to the venue of the International Responsible Tourism Conference
protesting it elitist agenda, complicity in propagating neo-liberal
commercial tourism and non-inclusive character. Scores of people
participated in the march braving heavy rains. They raised slogans against
the indifference and apathy of Kerala's Tourism Department towards the
victims of tourism and condemned its joint ventures with pro-industry
International Organizations like ICRT. The peaceful and nonviolent protest
was blocked by the police close to the venue (Hotel Le Meridien).