K C Santhoshkumar

The report prepared as part of a research study conducted by Delhi Forum on SEZ concludes that the Bekal Special Tourism Area, fifteen years after coming into being, is nowhere near achieving its announced objective of creating a planned, eco-friendly and sustainable "Beach Resort Tourism" destination. Ecologically sensitive areas have been acquired for construction activities violating the CRZ. The commons and lands where the lowest in the social strata eke out their livelihood have been handed over for resort development. The endemic bio-diversity is adversely affected by construction, eutrophication, pollution and introduction of exotic species

Mid of February, the Forum Kerala, a collective of civil society movements, people's groups and individuals urged Kerala Government to withdraw its move to introduce Special Tourism Zones within the state. The group also asked Kerala Government to appoint a commission, where representatives of civil society organisations and people's groups should be part, to assess the environmental, social and economic damages caused by the tourism industry within the state before initiating new projects, plans and marketing srategies. The forum also demanded that the tourism industry should give compensation to the affected people in the tourist destinations for its damages. The statement issued by the forum also strongly criticised Kerala ourism's move to se "Responsible Tourism" for its marketing. ECOT is supporting this campaign in solidarity with the Peoples of Kerala. Focus of the upcoming March/April CONTOURS magazine, will be on STZ/SEZ development with India,and Peru as urging examples.

The Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan recently announced that the creation of Special Tourism Zones (STZ) would be considered if private parties having large tracts of land approach the State Government. He also declared that government would change the rules relating to acquisition of land for tourism projects in the State.The government’s plan to announce STZs in Kerala has to be challenged because it will augment the pressure over the natural and other resources such as land, water, forests and will lead to environmental destruction, revenue losses and lack of real economic development of the state, breakdown of governance systems especially of the Panchayats with the creation of enclaves and lack of equal and non-exploitative employment opportunities for local communities in STZs.

To
Sri. V.S. Achuthanandan
Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram.

Sub: Appeal against the approval of Special Tourism Zones within the state.

Dear Sir,

We express our serious concern regarding the proposal for the new Special Tourism Zones on the lines of Special Economic Zones within the state. We are writing this letter to you in the context of Honourable Kerala Tourism Minister’s statement on Special Tourism Zone during the inauguration of the recent workshop on Responsible Tourism organised by Kerala Tourism. Minister announced that the creation of STZs would be considered if private parties having large tracts of land approach the State Government. He also declared that government would change the rules relating to acquisition of land for tourism projects in the State.