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?

Executive Summary

The Tourism Department of Kerala is using substantial funds allocated from the state shar under the Central Government of India’s Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme (TRP) to fund 20 tourism projects. In violation to the Planning Commission guidelines, these projects are not in tsunami-affected areas. Furthermore, the projects will bring hardly any benefit to local people, particularly marginalised affected fishing communities, and in many cases will place their land, livelihoods and traditional way of life under renewed threat. They are being done in the name of coastal protection while they are all for the development of tourism infrastructure and so-called beautification of beaches.

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.