Kerala Tourism Watch

Kerala Tourism Watch has endorsed the Call for Action on Mega Resorts issued by the Global Tourism Interventions Forum.
For further details and to endorse this campaign, write to:

EQUATIONS, #415, 2nd C-cross, 4th main, OMBR Layout, Banaswadi
Bangalore 560043, India (Telephone: +91-80-25457607/25457659
Fax: +91-80-25457665)E-mail: campaigns@equitabletourism.org
URL: www.equitabletourism.org Or tourism investigation & monitoring team (tim-team), P.O. Box 51 Chorakhebua, Bangkok 10230, Thailand, Email: timteam02@yahoo.com, Webpage: http://www.twnside.org.sg/tour.htm

10 March 2009
Bangalore, India – A ground-breaking study focusing on male children in prostitution in three of India’s major pilgrimage centres – Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Puri in Orissa and Guruvayoor in Kerala – has found that the sexual exploitation of male children in these tourism hotspots is pervasive and reportedly on the rise.

Thiruvananthapuram, 06/03/02009: The Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF), Kerala Tourism Watch,Kerala United Fisheries Forum,Alleppy, KABANI – the other direction in joint press release demands a transparent, democratic and participatory public hearing on the artificial reef project, Kovalam.

By T.G. Jacob

Irrational and illegal construction activities and mindless growth of the tourism sector have become an unsustainable burden on the towns. The tourism sector is pointing the accusing finger at the public bodies for not taking appropriate and timely action to maintain and develop the infrastructure facilities, while they themselves are largely responsible for the chaos that has come into being. Corruption is common but it is more common and intense in tourist enclaves because an important hallmark of any tourism dependent area is parasitism and the lure of easy money. Nilgiris, like Kovalam in Kerala, is a clear illustration of a tourism dependent economy and society bursting at the seams. T G Jacob, the author of the noted work "Tales of Tourism from Kovalam" takes a close look at the crisis in Nilgiris biosphere in the Western Ghats, India.

World Social Forum, Belém do Pará – Brazil, 28 January to 1 February 2009

We, participants of the Global Tourism Interventions Forum, which took place between 28 January and 1 February during the World Social Forum in Belém of Pará, Brazil, Pan-Amazon region, members of organizations of countries of Latin America, North America, Asia, Africa and Europe, affirm that another tourism is possible and urgent!

The fishing communities and coastal dwellers in Kerala have intensified their struggle against the attempt to utilize Government of India’s Tsunami Rehabilitation fund for building tourism infrastructure. The representatives of people living in the coastal areas, such as Tsunami Rehabilitation Action Council, Fish Workers Federation, Kerala Tourism Watch, Janamunnettam and various other organizations have criticized the Tourism Department’s decision to implement what is called 'Ente Theeram' project for tourism development using substantial chunk from the Rs 1441.75 crore sanctioned for the Tsunami Rehabilitation Project by the Union Government.

Dear friends,
Warm Greetings from Kerala Tourism Watch!

It was the other day the UNWTO at its annual ritual of official Tourism Day Celebration falling on 27th of every September tried to reassure an increasingly skeptical local communities that Tourism growth will be pursued with enhanced emphasis “on ethics and local community involvement…” This, it declared “is the main conclusion of this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD) Think Tank” held in Lima, Peru. The UNWTO in its statement also emphasized that “Tourism must grow in a smart way”.

We bring to your attention an example of such “smart ways” of tourism growth. It comes from Kerala where, in an a appalling violation of Federal Government rules and procedures and fundamental ethical protocols, funds earmarked for rehabilitation of Tsunami victims have been appropriated for Tourism development projects by Kerala Tourism. Will the UNWTO listen?

The London based Tourism Concern asks supporters “to lobby the Government of Kerala of the diversion of tsunami rehabilitation meant for rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of tsunami-affected communities in Kerala, India, to develop tourism”. Read the briefing document from Tourism Concern Riding the wave: Tsunami rehabilitation funds diverted for tourism and see the campaign call to send fax messages to the Chief Minister for Kerala and the Minister for Tourism expressing concern over the diversion of tsunami rehabilitation funds for the development of tourism.

Kerala Tourism Watch declares its moral and political solidarity to the striking workers of the Houseboat Industry in Kerala. Workers have launched an indefinite strike demanding better wages. Kerala’s tourism industry which often talks about responsible tourism stands thoroughly exposed in the wake of the strike. The houseboat industry has grown disproportionate to the carrying capacity of Kerala backwaters and it provides direct employment to nearly 2000 workers staffed by over 600 houseboats

EQUATIONS raises concern on the way in which public consultations have been arranged by CEE. It is noted that in many places CEE failed to include complete participation from all stakeholders. The question arises whether CEE had sent letters to a wide range of the stakeholders in the state and had informed them about the dates of the meeting and the venue? While the schedule is available on the website of CEE, many communities and movements do not have ready access to internet or use it as the regular mode of communication. Informing them sufficiently in advance and ensuring that they participate, their voices are heard and their concerns are documented and responded to is most critical, as they represent the most vulnerable communities on the coast.