Kumarakom becomes the cradle of Sustainability

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.