Making Destinations more Sustainable A case study of Kumarakom, Kerala, India U V JOSE Kerala Tourism U V JOSE Kerala Tourism

Kumarakom 20 years back A sleepy village of Sq. Km with 50% backwater, 25% paddy field Local community totally dependent on agriculture and fisheries Serene backwaters Bird sanctuary home to 91 species of local and 50 species of migratory birds Variety of mangroves A sleepy village of Sq. Km with 50% backwater, 25% paddy field Local community totally dependent on agriculture and fisheries Serene backwaters Bird sanctuary home to 91 species of local and 50 species of migratory birds Variety of mangroves

Current scenario A world renowned backwater destination 30,000 international visitors 20 world class resorts, 100 homestays, more than 100 houseboats 1000 classified / approved rooms 5000 direct and indirect employment in tourism Population of 25000, Households 5200 A world renowned backwater destination 30,000 international visitors 20 world class resorts, 100 homestays, more than 100 houseboats 1000 classified / approved rooms 5000 direct and indirect employment in tourism Population of 25000, Households 5200

Three years before Very low benefits from tourism to local community Negative socio-cultural and environmental impacts Local tourism industry and local community conflicts Local Panchayat totally sidelined in tourism development Strong indicators of unsustainable destination Very low benefits from tourism to local community Negative socio-cultural and environmental impacts Local tourism industry and local community conflicts Local Panchayat totally sidelined in tourism development Strong indicators of unsustainable destination

Government Intervention through RT Strategies formed by brainstorming workshops for stakeholders Decided to have economic responsibility focus to make visible impacts to local community Supported with socio-cultural and environmental responsibility Institutionalised at State and destination level Training and capacity-building programmes Strategies formed by brainstorming workshops for stakeholders Decided to have economic responsibility focus to make visible impacts to local community Supported with socio-cultural and environmental responsibility Institutionalised at State and destination level Training and capacity-building programmes

Economic Responsibility at Kumarakom Focussed on local procurement and establishing local enterprises Lead role to local panchayat on local production and supply No financial support from Government, except financing coordinating teams Started with defining local and demand & supply surveys Focussed on local procurement and establishing local enterprises Lead role to local panchayat on local production and supply No financial support from Government, except financing coordinating teams Started with defining local and demand & supply surveys

Economic Responsibility at Kumarakom Created a supply calendar based on the survey outputs Sourcing supply system through Samrudhi self-help-group Production systems through women self-help- group Kudumbasree strengthened Quality and Pricing Committees – Buyer and seller together deciding the prices Tourism Department ensured industry supports Created a supply calendar based on the survey outputs Sourcing supply system through Samrudhi self-help-group Production systems through women self-help- group Kudumbasree strengthened Quality and Pricing Committees – Buyer and seller together deciding the prices Tourism Department ensured industry supports

The Results Supply of more than 40 local items to hotels Sale of local products worth US$ 100,000 in last two years Conversion of 168 acres waste and uncultivated land into vegetable farms More than 25 Kudumbasree units with 750 women involved and benefited Supply of more than 40 local items to hotels Sale of local products worth US$ 100,000 in last two years Conversion of 168 acres waste and uncultivated land into vegetable farms More than 25 Kudumbasree units with 750 women involved and benefited

The Results More than 20 local enterprises including local handicraft units 10 Farmers groups and 500 homestead farming units Benefit to 1/3 rd of the households More than 20 local enterprises including local handicraft units 10 Farmers groups and 500 homestead farming units Benefit to 1/3 rd of the households

Socio-Cultural and Environmental Responsibility Awareness creation Village Life experience tour packages Cultural troupes Leadership in addressing environmental issues Awareness creation Village Life experience tour packages Cultural troupes Leadership in addressing environmental issues

The Outcome Reduced industry-community conflicts Community awareness on potential of tourism for socio-economic development New role to local panchayats in tourism development Reduced industry-community conflicts Community awareness on potential of tourism for socio-economic development New role to local panchayats in tourism development

To sustain the initiative and destination Local community should benefit more And for that tourism industry participation has to go up Tour Operators have a major role to play Promote destination as well as properties practicing RT principles Local community should benefit more And for that tourism industry participation has to go up Tour Operators have a major role to play Promote destination as well as properties practicing RT principles

Summary Quality of a destination has to be defined by the quality of life of the local population Quality of life of the local community can be improved through tourism by using principles of RT Let us create more RT destinations in the world Consider Kumarakom as a simple example Quality of a destination has to be defined by the quality of life of the local population Quality of life of the local community can be improved through tourism by using principles of RT Let us create more RT destinations in the world Consider Kumarakom as a simple example

Thank You