The State government will accord pride of place to responsible and sustainable tourism, while at the same time clamp down on encroachers and illegal constructions that prop up in tourism locales, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said, issuing a resolute warning to unscrupulous stakeholders who are wreaking havoc in Kerala's ecologically fragile tourist destinations.
Mr. Vijayan was inaugurating the 10th edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) that began here on Thursday, showcasing in front of stakeholders and mediapersons from 66 countries the swift resurgence of a State that witnessed devastating floods in August. Tourists will lose interest in locales where construction and other activities threaten the environment. The recent floods have given rise to the fear that some destinations will record lower footfall unless ecofriendly tourism is practised and the State's rich biodiversity is preserved, he said. “Adherence to Responsible Tourism is non-negotiable, since there has to be a win-win situation for guests, farmers, members of the local community and self-help groups. Activities that harm nature will cause disasters such as floods. The tourism sector alone lost ₹2,000 crore in the calamity,” Mr. Vijayan said.
Referring to the nine national awards that Kerala Tourism bagged earlier in the day, he said this vindicated the State’s strength in the sector.
Malabar tourism
Mr. Vijayan said that the opening of Kannur International Airport will see tourism get a boost in Malabar. Lonely Planet chose northern Kerala as one among the 10 ‘Must-see destinations in Asia.’
In his address, Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons, who was the chief guest, said tourists visited India not just to experience the country, but to get transformed.
This year’s KTM being held at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centres on Willingdon Island will see 450 sellers of Kerala’s tourism products interact and strike deals with 545 buyers from 66 countries and 1,090 buyers from other States.