Media release on 'Irresponsible Tourism Convention'
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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 - 24th 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"
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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"
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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"
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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
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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).

Read  http://keralatourismwatch.org for Civil society campaigns on Kerala Tourism