Tourism is today recognized as a social phenomenon which brings mankind closer to different social values, cultural heritage and customs. Successful tourism development imbibes the values of recognising the sustainability of natural resources and the socio-cultural ethos of the land.

Kerala has inculcated several measures to be followed by tourists to sustain the pristine beauty of God's Own Country and to conserve and protect its natural bounty. The focus of promotion of tourism in Kerala is channelised with a vision that aims at sensitising and educating tourists/visitors on various measures that has to be followed to preserve God's gift to man - Nature.

The importance of responsible tourism based on conservation-preservation is the key to Kerala's tourism policies and this is made evident in the guidelines set by Kerala Tourism for tour operators and the tourists who visit this land that has lured travellers through the centuries.

Travellers Guidelines for Responsible Tourism

Do an in-depth research on the customs and practices of God's Own Country before you plan your visit
Appreciate the culture of the land and its tradition
Be polite to the native people and appreciate their habits
Learn a few basic words of greetings and polite phrases in the native language before your visit
Respect the diverse religious and social customs of Kerala
Observe the local laws and codes of the land
Try to actively involve yourself in the cultural and environmental concerns of Kerala and cooperate accordingly
Avoid trying to purchase or own things which are not legally permissible or might be protected
Do not force entry into prohibited or restricted areas that will disrupt the ecology or the cultural sentiments of the land
Conserve energy by minimising the use of fans, lights, geysers etc. whenever not required
Avoid overuse, wastage and pollution of water, contributing to the global conservation of water resources
Avoid littering public places and ensure that waste is disposed only in bins earmarked for the purpose

Pre-Departure Guidelines for visitors to Sanctuaries

Maximum size of visitors group for trekking will be 9
Guests shall not bring pets, i.e. dogs, cats etc. inside any park or reserve
Do not collect any form of fauna or flora from any sanctuary or park
Be aware of the negative aspects of insensitive behaviour, such as taking photographs of people without their consent or failure to observe local customs
Do not interfere with scientific research, facilities or equipment
Be aware of your capabilities and the dangers posed by the trip
Dress codes to be followed
Do not damage plants - for example by walking, driving, or landing on extensive moss beds or lichen-covered areas
Keep noise to the minimum to avoid frightening wildlife
Do not bring non-native plants or animals into the park
Be aware of the location of areas that have been accorded special protection and of any restrictions regarding entry and activities that can be carried out in and around the area
Be aware of applicable restrictions and regulations of the site
Do not damage, remove or destroy historic sites or monuments, or any artifacts associated with them
Please ensure that necessary permission is obtained before visiting
Maintain a safe distance from all wildlife
Do not stray from group
Do not disturb any animal by making noises, flashing lights or making any sudden movements that may frighten animals
Do not chase animals
Be aware that too much noise disturbs the wildlife and can antagonize other visitors
Do not damage vegetation or any fencepost, gate or signpost in the park
Be aware that plant damage can be irreplaceable resulting in loss of feeding and breeding grounds
Do not remove flora and fauna. Removal of these seriously disrupts the ecosystem and is illegal
Do not buy animal products as souvenirs as this encourages further plundering of these species
Always remain inside your accommodation at night
Be aware that the animals are wild and can be dangerous
Do not remain in the parks or reserves between 7 pm & 7 am unless accommodation is provided
Do not discard any foodstuff or litter the land and water bodies
Do not hand-feed fish and animals
Do not feed, touch or handle birds and animals; do not approach or photograph them in ways that may cause them to alter their behaviour
Take special care when animals are breeding or moulting

Jungle Rules - General Do's and Don'ts

Total silence and discipline is required to spot wild animals
Small groups are preferred
Early mornings and late afternoons are the ideal time to visit forests
Travelling alone is prohibited especially in the Elephant Reserves
Do not wear colourful clothes or perfumes. Khakis, browns and greens are best suited
Always carry drinking water, tea/coffee, snacks etc.
Seek the assistance of a forest guard while going into the forests
Do not disturb or tease animals
Trekkers are advised to use jungle boots to ensure safety
Carry a first aid kit with medicines for common ailments
Avoid smoking
Radios and tape recorders are to be avoided
Do not litter the surroundings
Respect animals and their habits
Do not remove anything from the Sanctuary
Carry a note pad, flash light, road maps, bus, train and airline time-tables
Do not try to explore unfamiliar things
Be careful during boat rides. Don't do anything that will rock the boat or endanger lives
Do not expect to see animals all the time. Be patient

Guidelines for Tour Operators

Prepare definite pre-departure programmes
Awareness modules to be distributed among the tourists before their departure to the destination (This should include Culture, History, Food habits, Climate, Responsible travel tour programmes, Health cares, Do's and Don'ts, Dress code etc. - information to be relevant, brief and communicative)
Fix group size for all programmes taking care the carrying capacity of the destination. Tour packages to be made according to the group size
Detailed information to be given to tourists on arrival at the destination (continuation of the awareness programme - Interactive sessions, Audiovisual presentations, Environmental films, Printed materials etc.)
All escorted tours should have tour managers. They are responsible for ensuring that privacy and dignity of areas visited is maintained
Prevention of cultural impacts should be part of awareness programmes (Special mention on Dress codes, Thorough filtering of tourists to sensitive areas, Handouts of culture shocks, Family binding, Customs etc. to be well communicated.)
Promote the appreciation of religious places and respect of local culture by discouraging the purchase of religious objects or heirlooms Camp fire and open fires should be discouraged to prevent deforestation
Indigenous plant saplings may be taken and tourists should be encouraged to plant them near the campsites or on the trails
Campsites to be left clean and all non-biodegradable garbage carried back for proper disposal
No cuttings, seeds or roots of plants should be allowed to be taken away from the sanctuaries, that is illegal in many reserves