1. A world class Tourism Centre & its host community
P.G. Padmanabhan & Kence Georgey
The Socity for Socially Responsible & Eco Friendly Tourism
Kumarakom, Keral, India –

2. KUMARAKOM in Kerala India.
An exploration of the impact of Tourism in a recently developed small village.
KUMARAKOM in Kerala India.

3. Kumarakom Village – A Backwater Tourism Hub Host Community Population > 25,000 Mainly cultivators, fishermen, shell collectors, toddy tapers etc.

4. Main Tourist Attractions
Vast sea sized lake Vembanad – a Ramsar site supporting more than 20,000 water fowls, many varieties of tasty fishes
Bird Sanctuary – Home to 91 species of local & 50 species of migratory birds.
Mangrove Belt
Vast Paddy fields below sea level
Houseboat Cruise

5. Arrival of Tourism
1989 Taj Group started a heritage resort on the bank of the Lake.
Followed by 14 Big operators
9 Medium type Hotels
100 Houseboats & Homestay.

6. Growth of Tourist Arrival at Kumarakom
360% in Six Years form 2002
Occupancy rate – 55% to 85%

7. Socio Economic Impact
Land Price – Skyrocketed 20 to 30 fold in 10 years.
Conversion of agricultural land.
Land made a commodity in Real Estate market
Agriculture Production & employment diminished.

8. Socio Economic Impact
Agricultural workers & traditional fisher men lost Job.
Census Figurres for 1990 and 2000 say 432 men & 645 woman lost Job in the agriculture sector.
Overall labor participation diminished by 1.4%

9. Employment in Tourism
10 to 12 percent of total work force in the village now employed in tourism sector.

10. Government Intervention
Tourism (conservation & preservation of areas) Act 2005 – declared Kumarakom a Special Tourism Zone
A draft guidelines for Tourism industry published, but not implimented.
Collection of heavy taxes

11. Tourism Digs Its Own Grave
Polluting backwaters & neglecting its preservation.
Denying local people’s participation

12. People’s Intervention
People’s charter & guidelines on sustainable tourism for Kumarakom 2002 call for increased participation, economic & social benefits for the host community.
Initiated the practice of Responsible Tourism.