Tourism News

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission to become Society

The Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission will become the first government-owned society in Kerala to give training, do marketing and provide other support measures to local communities to start enterprises in the tourism sector. The state cabinet has given nod to the draft Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations for the formation of the RT Mission as a society.

The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the new society will be the Tourism Minister and the Tourism Secretary respectively, while the existing RT mission coordinator will be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The move will not hamper the funds to the RT mission from local-self government bodies and other agencies. Now, 24,000 local units are functioning under the RT mission, and around 1,50,000 families will eke out their livelihood through the Mission.

Water Street project in Maravanthuruthu to be widened
The Kerala Tourism Department has sanctioned Rs 1 crore for enhancing infrastructure in Maravanthuruthu panchayat in Kottayam district that gained global accolades by implementing the sustainable and inclusive Water STREET project as part of the Responsible Tourism initiative.

The amount will be utilized for developing tourism facilities including a floating boat jetty at Attuvelakadavu and Thuruthumma hanging bridge, which come under the Water STREET project. The tourism destination developmental activities will be carried out in these areas with special emphasis on water conservation.

With the completion of these works, Maravanthuruthu will have four recognised tourism sites apart from Arivalthodu, Moozhikkal Vayanasala and Koottommel – Moozhikkal Art STREET area.

These works will be carried out by the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd (KSINC), a state government undertaking.  The Tourism Minister Mr P. A. Muhamad Riyas said the development of the Water STREET project in Maravanthuruthu is a major initiative in facilitating the growth of the tourism in rural areas.

The Water STREET project bagged a global award at World Travel Market, London, and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Indian Sub-Continent Award instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government and the UK-based ICRT International.

To more about Responsible Tourism, visit https://www.keralatourism.org/responsible-tourism/