Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that his government will extend to all tourist spots the responsible tourism model successfully implemented at Kumarakom.
Inaugurating the launch of the Responsible Tourism Mission here on Friday, the Chief Minister said the new model stressed the importance to regard every tourist as a cherished guest. It would help to turn the local tourism industry as a market for local products. The model would turn the State into more tourism-friendly, he said.
Affordable packages
The Chief Minister set two major goals for the tourism industry: make the packages affordable, but never lag on cleanliness. Most of the tourists who arrived in Kerala were not the super rich.
“They work hard in their own lands. And they spend it on travel and entertainment,” he said and added that this segment would need affordable tourism packages. He pointed to growing trend of Indian tourists embarking on foreign tours.
According to him, for those who come from cleaner environs, the lack of cleanliness in our tourism spots was a huge drag on their enthusiasm. This would not only create negative impression about the State but also affect the tourism industry here, he said.
With long seas shores, hill stations, rivers and lakes, there were very few places as beautiful as Kerala, he said. “This is a mine and we have to make use of it responsibly,” he said.
Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran, who presided over the function, the new tourism policy of the State would be declared next week.
“This government will not make tourism policy without giving due value to the interest of the local people,” he said.
Jose K. Mani, MP; K. Suresh Kurup, MLA; district panchayat president Zacharias Kuthiraveli; Tourism Director Bala Kiran; former MLA and CPI(M) leader V.N. Vasavan; and others also spoke.
