[Reader-list] Tourism’s New “Smart Growth”- at whose expense? The Case of Tsunami Fund Appropriation by Kerala Tourism

[Anivar Aravind]

Tourism's New "Smart Growth"- at whose expense? The Case of Tsunami
Fund Appropriation by Kerala Tourism

http://keralatourismwatch.org/node/117

Dear friends,

Warm Greetings from Kerala Tourism Watch!

It was the other day the UNWTO at its annual ritual of official
Tourism Day Celebration falling on 27th of every September tried to
reassure an increasingly skeptical local communities that Tourism
growth will be pursued with enhanced emphasis "on ethics and local
community involvement…" This, it declared "is the main conclusion of
this year's World Tourism Day (WTD) Think Tank" held in Lima, Peru.
The UNWTO in its statement also emphasized that "Tourism must grow in
a smart way".

We bring to your attention an example of such "smart ways" of tourism
growth. It comes from Kerala where, in an a appalling violation of
Federal Government rules and procedures and fundamental ethical
protocols, funds earmarked for rehabilitation of Tsunami victims have
been appropriated for Tourism development projects by Kerala Tourism.
Will the UNWTO listen?

The Government of Kerala has received 14,417.5 million Indian Rupees
of Government of India's Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme (TRP) funds
for rebuilding the lives and livelihood of tsunami affected coastal
communities. Of this, 1000 million Indian Rupees have been allocated
to the state tourism board, Kerala Tourism, to fund 20 tourism
projects proposed by them.

Kerala Tourism is diverting this fund meant for restoring the life of
tsunami affected population for developing infrastructure for beach
tourism. These projects are not in tsunami-affected areas and the
projects will bring hardly any benefit to local people, particularly
marginalised affected fishing communities. These projects are being
done in the name of coastal protection while it is for the development
of tourism infrastructure and so-called beach beautification schemes.

The fishing community has been questioning the rationale of using
Tsunami funds for tourism projects. Many of the projects will directly
conflict with the needs and interests of tsunami-affected communities.
They have already raised their protests and concerns .But the arrogant
Kerala Tourism has never taken these concerns in to account and they
are going ahead with these projects, neglecting the opinion and
concern of the coastal communities.

We, Kerala Tourism Watch believes that the decision of Kerala Tourism
to go ahead with the project activities despite the raising concerns
and protests from the coastal communities is an insult and injustice
to the tsunami affected communities. And thus we are calling for a
larger campaign to stop the inhuman act of 'Irresponsible Kerala
Tourism'. We also request you to question Kerala Tourism in the
international forums like World Travel Mart, where Kerala Tourism
portraying it as 'Responsible Tourism Destination' for its marketing.

We request you to send your protest to Kerala Tourism and spread this
to your part of the world to show your solidarity to the real victims
of tsunami.


Looking forward for your solidarity

Kerala Tourism Watch

In solidarity with the Kerala's Tsunami victims we request you to
write to the following authorities in Kerala and New Delhi against
unethical and ill-advised appropriation of Tsunami funds for Tourism
projects in the state:

Smt. Ambika Soni,
Union Minister of Tourism and culture,
Government of India,
New Delhi,
email: tourismminister at nic.in

Shri. V. S. Achuthanandan,
Chief Minister, Government of Kerala,
Govt. Secretariat,
Thiruvananthapuram,
email: chiefminister at kerala.gov.in

Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan,
Minister for Tourism Kerala,
Govt. Secretariat,
Thiruvananthapuram,
email: minister-home at kerala.gov.in

Shri. Shilabhadra Banerjee,
Secretary, Ministry of Tourism,
Government of India,
New Delhi,
email: sectour at nic.in

Dr. Venu V. IAS,
Secretary of Tourism,
Government of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram,
email: venu at keralatourism.org.

Alternatively, you may also visit UK Based Tourism Concern website:
http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/index.php?page=efax
where a facility for electronic fax to post protest to The Chief
Minister of Kerala and Minister of Tourism is provided.