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.

Bangkok Post, Monday October 13, 2008

http://www.bangkokpost.com/131008_Business/13Oct2008_biz30.php

Long-term challenges must be faced

IMTIAZ MUQBIL

Non-governmental organisations in the travel and tourism industry took advantage of World Tourism Day recently to stress that current financial crises may be a short-term phenomenon, and that the industry would still have to deal with long-term issues.

 NGOs in Asia and Europe used Sept 27, World Tourism Day, to issue calls for the industry to respect the environment, curb usage of water, observe the laws, especially those involving national parks and other fragile ecosystems, and respect human rights of migrant workers and indigenous peoples. 

The home-stays will be jointly marketed during trade fairs held in the domestic and international markets. Kerala Tourism will also approve MHRIL to use its distinguishing logos, trademarks and taglines for the successful marketing of home-stays.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/12/stories/2008091254240400.htm

Staff Reporter, The Hindu

Monday, Sep 08, 2008
 

ALAPPUZHA: A continuing standoff between houseboat owners and employees over wages has literally paralysed the houseboat industry here for the last three days.

The issue began with the 1,800 odd employees, working on over 600 houseboats, demanding a hike in the wages after the two-year contract expired in August. From the current wages of Rs.2,500 a month and a daily allowance of Rs.100, the employees wanted a monthly wage Rs.4,000 and a daily allowance of Rs.200.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090855720600.htm

The issue of illegal reclamation of backwaters and Pokkali fields at Kumbalangi village in Kerala was taken up by Equations. The Local Body had given the green signal for the construction of 56 cottages perched on pillars set in water bodies. The construction of the resorts was taken up by Poppys Inn Private Limited. Earlier this year, Equations had pointed out in a letter to Chief Minister that huge areas of the water body were being reclaimed for promotion of tourism in Kumbalangi. The Government order issued in this regard is attached.

The Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) has expressed concern over the role of a Non-Governmental Organisation called Centre for Environment and Education (CEE) in the public consultation on the controversial Coastal Zone Management (CZM) notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

As the Kerala government goes on an overdrive to sell tourism, its major destinations are beginning to resemble garbage dumps

KA SHAJI
Thiruvananthapuram

Monday June 9 2008 14:50 IST

Express News Service

Kerala Tourism Watch, a coalition of civil society activists and local communities, has urged the State Government to wind up the Trivandrum Golf Club, clamp a ban on the game in the State and convert the 25.38 acres of verdant space into a biodiversity park