This webportal is a collective effort to pool critical resources on Kerala Tourism and its social, political, cultural, environmental and human rights impacts
Articles
New Kerala Tourism campaign: Copy cat or creativity unleashed?
September 28, 10
Tuhina Anand
Kerala Tourism has come out with its new international campaign – ‘Your moment is waiting’ – which is evincing some extreme reactions. While some have loved it, there are those who just abhor it and find it appalling. The ad has also drawn a lot of flak for its experimentation, as some feel it’s not the Kerala that they know of. Also, there have been parallels drawn with another campaign, incidentally for Mexico Tourism, Estrellas del Bicentenario
Environment, Propaganda and Profits
Submitted by admin on Fri, 09/17/2010 - 10:44
Originaly posted at Countermedia.in
Bobby Kunhu
On the eve of a press conference scheduled on the 16th of September 2010 organised by a number of civil society groups and organizations regarding the artificial reefs at Kovalam initiated, propagated and constructed by ASR Ltd, a New Zealand based Multinational and contracted out through the Harbour Engineering Department by the Kerala Tourism Department using funds from the Tsunami rehabilitation Project, a very problematic instance of reportage in the Hindu by Anil Radhakrishnan has been brought under the scanner. The last of this series of reports that has come to my attention is dated August 11, 2010
The reports seems to be done in haste and all of them clearly seem to represent only one side of the story – the side of the company and amongst others seems to have irked the local fishing communities as well. The reports have not even taken enough efforts to cross-verify most of the statements professed by the company.
Methran Kayal: Reclamation of vast extent of wetlands for golf course and other luxury amenities in and around Vembanad lake – the prestigious Ramsar Site of Kerala
Renjan Mathew Varghese, State Director, WWF
The most recent and bizarre of development proposal being pushed forward by the Industries Department is by an international development firm proposing to reclaim 450acres of wetlands named ‘Methran Kayal’ in Kuttanad area, and that too, to put up a 18 hole golf course, multi star hotel, condominium, luxury resorts etc. One has to realize that this proposed wetland site is part of the internationally acclaimed Ramsar Site Vembanad.
Scott Free! Protecting Children against Sexual Exploitation in Tourism: Challenges and Imperatives in the Indian Situation Equations, March 2009
Equations, March 2009
What ails the Nilgiris?
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.
Tsunami Fund Diversion for Tourism Development: Violation of Rules; Injustice to Coastal Communities
Submitted by admin on Fri, 10/24/2008 - 01:53
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.
Tears In God's Own Country
Submitted by admin on Sun, 08/03/2008 - 19:08
As the Kerala government goes on an overdrive to sell tourism, its major destinations are beginning to resemble garbage dumps
KA SHAJI
Thiruvananthapuram
Child Labour in the Services in India: The Case of Tourism
 |
Prof. Nina Rao
The search for new products and new markets, like rural tourism and eco tourism have infiltrated into areas where there is little awareness of the dangers of tourism and its impact on children. In fact, when some NGO studies have pointed to the abuse of children in tourism services the administration has denied it |
Responsible tourism: prospects and dangers
 |
Thursday, March 27, 2008 BRP Bhaskar The government’s primary duty is to make sure that development of tourism does not endanger Kerala’s precarious ecological balance. It must never be forgotten that what propels the private sector forward is the profit motive. If the authorities do not closely monitor and regulate their activities, the natural beauty that attracts tourists may be lost in no time. |
Enclavisation of tourism: Special Tourism Zones in India
EQUATIONS
Third World Resurgence, Issue 207-208
When the STA policy was proposed in 1992, some of the identified locations were Bekal (Kerala), Sindhudurg (Maharashtra), Diu, Kancheepuram and Mahabalipuram (both Tamil Nadu). The proposal never took off, probably due to a lack of the necessary economic impetus from the central and state governments. But in some identified areas like Bekal and Sindhudurg where the government went all out to implement the policy, communities resisted vociferously. It is important to learn from the experiences of local communities in these locations.
