Responsible Tourism of Kerala has bagged
two PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Awards. First time a project
is being honored by PATA with both Gold and Silver Awards.
Kumarakom
in Kerala is now a dearer for international experts and jurists of Sustainable
Tourism. The two PATA gold Awards in the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) category along with its E-Newsletter in the Marketing
Media section come to Kumarakom immediately after the UNWTO Ulysses Award for
Innovation in Public Policy and Governance, the highest honour given to
government bodies for shaping global tourism policies through innovative
initiatives. In 2011, Kumarakom got PATA Silver Award. Earlier Responsible
Tourism project of Kerala was recognized with the Award of Best Rural
Tourism Project (2012) and the National Award for Best Responsible Tourism
Project (2010) by the Ministry of Tourism, India.
“Through
the Kumarakom model, we have shown the world that it is possible to
successfully link the local community with the hospitality industry and various
government departments for empowering the people and developing an area while
sustaining eco-friendly tourism,” state Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar said.
Being
a landmark initiative, Responsible Tourism in Kumarakom has a decisive role in
transforming the lives of people. It is estimated that around thousand families
are being benefited through this project which is often being approved as the
best model for women empowerment where majority are women members; they take
leadership role in myriad ventures ranges from homestead farming to
entrepreneurial programs. Though it started only in 2008, within a short span
of time, Kumarkom emerged as a model for sustainable tourism development. With
the active cooperation of industry, collective participation of community and
the effective leadership of local self government (LSG), Kumarakom creates
legacies on community empowerment.
Reacting
to this achievement, Mr. Rupesh Kumar, Responsible Tourism State Project leader
said. "Unrelenting support
of industry partners paved way for a conducive environment for the
implementation of the project. Beyond Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
activities, industry stretches their arms to lend support for the amelioration
of the triple bottom settings of responsible tourism; by actively engaging in
economic, social, cultural and environmental development of the destination.
This award may truly inspire the industrial community eager to embrace
sustainability, when many destinations strive to strike a balance between image
and sustainability.”
The
clarion call of Kumarakom apparently elucidates that the tourism development
can give way for the apprehensions of society and critics, if the essence of
responsible tourism brings in to the fore of tourism policies.
