Call for a deliberative approach

Following the huge success of the parallel convention on Irresponsible Tourism in Kerala in March 2008, the failings, iniquities and rhetorical excesses of Kerala Tourism have begun to receive increasing national and International attention.

Strategizing on the occasion of the 2^nd International Conference on Responsible Tourism held in Kochi during March 2008, the fishers, dalits, tribals, local communities and civil society activists in Kerala had put the concern over the impacts of the mass tourism appearing in different labels of sustainability and responsibility foremost in their agenda.

Both mainstream and alternative media covered the civil society based non violent protests and peaceful demonstrations against mass tourism practices in the state with the urgency and importance they deserved. Overwhelming participation of a growing community of tourism victims highlighted the increasing relevance of the oppositional movements in providing a broad platform for raising the voices of the marginalized groups.  

The Kerala Declaration on Irresponsible Tourism, a document that comprehensively addresses some of the most sensitive and long standing demands of the Kerala civil society has been appreciated by groups and communities who share similar concerns and agonies across the globe. Nonetheless, the response of the authorities, not surprisingly, has been lukewarm. They have either tried to ignore these signals of anxieties about the misdirected tourism policies or consistently play down their importance. 

We feel that it is important for the government to begin a genuine process of dialogue involving local communities and marginalized groups in addressing the impacts of Tourism in the state.  In an age of deliberative democracy, it will be hugely disappointing if the tourism department unilaterally choose to close options for such dialogical engagements.