Responsible Tourism at Kumarakom bagged UNWTO award.

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Award is for Community Based Tourism Products (CBT) in the category of Innovation in Public Policy and Governance. Grass root level participation, LSG leadership and industry cooperation were instrumental behind this recognition –Rupesh Kumar, State Project Coordinator said. 

Though recognition for Responsible Tourism is not a breaking news at Kumarakom, the UNWTO award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance-2013 announced yesterday, offered a moment of pride for Kerala Tourism. The prestigious UNWTO Ulysses Award is for highly innovative and participatory initiatives that reflect tangible and sustainable improvements in policy, processes, and governance which works towards an inclusive model of tourism governance; UN sources said. Mr. Rupesh Kumar, State Project Coordinator, Responsible Tourism said that the active involvement of the Kudumbasree, local community and NGOs in field level interventions, LSG leadership and industry cooperation were prime factors that made this achievement possible in a short period of time. Rupesh authored three books on Responsible Tourism and sustainable strategies is also in the charge of Destination Coordinator from the very inception of the project and instrumental behind many acclaims. The highly innovative Community Based Tourism Product (CBT) Village Life Experience (VLE) tours aim at exploring hinterlands of villages and sharing benefits to the local community made us to clinch this honor, he added.   Dhanya Sabu, President of the Kumarakom village council says that Responsible Tourism initiative has transformed their lives. G.C. Damodaran, former Pnachayath President – an active campaigner of Responsible Tourism also played a key role in grass root empowerment and innovations.

It is estimated that 22 Kudumbasree vegetable units, 100 family based egg production units, 14 local farmers clubs, and 360 homestead units are actively involved with RT initiatives at Kumarakom. Additionally, at least 1,000 local residents have benefited from the industry – community link-up. Estimates show that total income (directly to community) generated through RT procurement supply mechanism crossed one crore during last year.  

(Paul V Mathew is the former State Team Leader, Responsible Tourism, Kerala, paulvmathew.hr@gmail.com)

Rupesh Kumar, a silent warrior creates legacies of Responsible Tourism

http://fillthelacuna.blogspot.in/2013/07/rupesh-kumar-silent-warrior-creates.html

Village Life Experience Tours

http://wwwruralindiacom.blogspot.in/2010/09/day-with-farmers-kumarakom.html