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Published on : Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Vaikom, an iconic location rich in heritage and sights, has always dazzled due to its proximity to some of the best backwater destinations in Kerala.
But thanks to PEPPER (People’s Participation for Planning and Empowerment through Responsible Tourism), the backwater town has now found a place in the official tourism map of the state.
In a recent order (No: 306/ 2020/ Tourism), the Department of Tourism has included Vaikom and nine panchayats adjoining it as a Tourism destination under its Destination Management Programme.
Earlier in February this year, the State government constituted a destination management committee for successful implementation of the PEPPER project in Vaikom. The committee, comprising the District Deputy Director of Tourism and the DTPC secretary as members, has the Vaikom MLA, C.K. Asha as its chairman and the RT Mission Kerala State coordinator as its convenor.
Launched on November 3, 2017, the PEPPER project envisaged developing Vaikom municipality and nine of its adjoining panchayats as a tourism destination through local participation.
As part of it, special tourism gram sabhas were convened in all the local bodies to identify the tourism potential of respective regions, followed by the formulation of a tourism directory, preparation of tourism packages, training for resource persons and implementation of projects.
Tourism Minister KadakampillySurendran said the massive involvement of the local people through the PEPPER project prompted the State government to declare Vaikom as a tourist destination.
Taking a cue from its success in Vaikom, similar projects to ensure local participation were being initiated in 48 other locations as well, the Minister said in a statement.
Tags: Kerala govt, official tourism map