Compilation on tourism policYI principles and guidelines for sustainability

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Readings

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Compilation on tourism policy, principles and guidelines for sustainability

Kerala: Exploring Future Frontiers in Tourism Development

Department of Tourism, Kerala EQUATIONS, Bangalore

July 2000

Departrnent of Tourism, Kerala Park View, Thiruvananthapuram 695 033

Tel: +91+471+322 547

Fax: +91+471+322279 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.keraiatourism.org

EQUATIONS (Equitable Tourisrn Options) 198, II cross, Church Road,

New Thippasandra,

Bangalore- 560 075

Telefax: +91 +80-528 2313/529 2905 E-rnail: [email protected] http://w ww .eq ui tabletouris rn. org

Contents

Introduction

Draft National Tourism Policy 1998

Kerala Tourism Policy 1997 17

State Tourism Minister's Conference:

Guidelines for the Development of Eco-tourisrn 27

Eootourism: Some misconceptions and Clarifications:

Ecotourism in Kerala: Dept. of Public Relations, Govt. of Kerala 33

Tamilnadu Tourism: Opening the Spice Routes 37

Draft Wildlife Tourism Guidelines for India 4-3

Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 SO

Tourism and Sustainable Development:

Report of the Secretary General of United Nations 56

Development of Approaches and 'Practices for the Sustainable

Use of Biological Resources I Including Tourism 75

Sustainable Tourism: A Non-Governmental Organisation Perspective 87

The Perils of Social Development without Economic Growth:

The Development Debacle of Kerala India 92

Managing the Other of Nature: Sustainability, Spectacle, and

Global Regimes of Capital in Eco-tourism 113

Tourism at Cross Roads: Challenges to Developing Countries

by the New World Trade Order 131

Sociocultural Perspectives on Tourism Planning and Development 146

Introduction

In the course of changing perceptions and expansion of scope of present development. it is imperative that there are processes by which such emerging trends could be absorbed into practice. The essential presence of multiple stakeholders and partakers. the existence of various influences that bypass national boundaries, etc are characteristics of development underline the need for amalgamation of these diversities. The question of development is also related to many issues like sustainability and equitable sharing of its profits, and also seeks to address areas such as unequal power relations both between and within nations.

Tourism is an emissary. of both the nature and complexity of development, and the related issues. The presence- of multiple stakeholders both public and private, issues related to the. ownership and governance, mark th.e tourism debate as such a representative. These debates are intertwined an10ng state machinery, hotel industry, tour operiltors, 10Cil1 community and local administrative bodies who are main players those have stake that are different in tourism development. Tourism, thus becomes important, not only lor its complexities that alford an understanding into larger issues and needs of developrnen t, but also as a development option in itself. Existentially. and inherent! y I tourism lends itself to any discussion on development, that is sought to be made meaningfuL

The need for attempt.'! to embrace the complexities is felt not only at the national level, but also at international fora, which seek to address issues of development and sustainabihty. The Commission for Sustainable Development, attempts on drilwing a Code of Ethics by the WTO Me examples of endeavors which strive at understanding the possibility of ilrriving at a multi stakeholder approach in

Tourism.

The selection of readings compiled in this volume represent a variety of initiatives, both local and global in this respect. Tourism policies of the national and state governments present itself as important indicators towards the past and the present of tourism in the state. Artide5 that look into th e development of Kerala and documents of international bodies, which talk about new initiatives in the Cield of development and tourism form the background, are also found.

We hope that the materials collected will initiate thought on the tourism development of the state and would help putting into perspective the workshop: Keralai Exploring FUlun~ Frontiers in Tourism.

Draft National Tourism Policy September 1998

(G overn ment 0 fin d ia, Min istry 0 f T ouris m, (1998), Draft Nat ional Tour ism Po I icy, Septcm ber 1 998)

1. PREAMDLE

Travel has been an integral part of social phenomenon of the modern society ent<lilin_g demand un various fal'ilities, and services including transport, accommodation, restaurants, entertainment lactliues , shopping outlets and sites of tourist attractions and here by activating a proce~s of accelerated economic production and distribution. The enterprises/establishments engaged in such wide ranging diverse activities to meet the tourist demand constitute the tourism industry, which needs to be recognised and developed by prOViding the reguired policy support and it is proposed to be achieved through this document.

2. THE MISSIO:"l

The solemn mission of the government is to promote tourism as a means to ensure a more meaningful and wider understanding of India and its people amongst all sections of the societies both within the country and abroad and to achieve sustained economic development and positive social dl.mge through development of tourism while preserving and protecting the environment and heritage.

3. GROWTH AND STRUCTURE OF TOURISr..l

3. 1 TOllrism ReSOllftl's

India's tourism resources are immense. Il:I historic and cultural mosaic is unigue. The monuments, sculptures and paintings of India bear testimony to the national ethos for lrarmonv and diversities to be reflected in a com posite whole. The geographical features of India are both colourful and varied.

The loft)" Himalayas inspire human spirit to divine height.s and olTer opportunities for a whole rallg~ ot' adventure sport.s. Some of the beaches in India are the best in the world with an irresistible combination of sun, sand and sea. The wealth of ecosystems consisting of biosphere reserves, coral reefs, deserts, mountains and forests along with the flora and fauna provide enormous potential for eco tourism.

A bove all, India is a country of numerous fairs and festivals as well as art and handicrafB which reprl!;",nt the mystical life styles of Indian society. These attractions of India hold Virtually an unlimited potential for tourtsm development.

3.? TOll/ism since Inde/Je/ldt'l/«'

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Though India had a good amount of tourism activity when it became independent SO y .. ars ,lg0, tourism <IS <I subject did not figtu'e in the constitution of India except that some of it~ cOlH]l{)nt:llt~ we re mentioned in the Central or Stat", lists. There was also no allocation for tourism development dUrtll:c first Five Year Plan.

T our ism became a constituent of planning proces~ dllring_ Se , 'Jnd FI\·c Y car Plan (1956-61) with J token allocation of Rs 3.36 crorc for both Central and State sectors put togcthcl·. The developmental approach during the Second Plan was mainly on creating isoi ated Iacilities in impor tant tourist centres.

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The Third Plan witnessed the beginning of an era for the development of activities connected with tourism , particularly adventure tourism by the establishmen: of 'Winter Sports Complex' at Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. The India Tourism Development Cor oornuon (lTDC) W,IS also set up in 1966 to develop tourism infrastructure and promote India a, a tourist dcsuuauon,

The approach during the Fourth and Fifth plan' was expansion and improvement of tourist facilities with a view to promote 'destination trame' as distinct from transit U"J!"fic.' Integrated development oj selected tourist centres like Kovalarn, GulmMg, Goa, Kulu-Manali etc. received much attention and became the symbolic models or resort tourism in India.

The Sixth plan (1980~8S) was a major landmark ill the l:.hwry of Indian tourism. The llrst even "Tourism Policy' of the country was announced during 1982 which specified the development objccti\"e~ and provided an action plan based on a travel circuit concept to maximise the benefits of tourism.

The development of tourism was st.lted as a plan objective curing the Seventh Plan (I 9S 5- 90) and 'the sector was accorded the status of an industry. It thus became ,1 wa\Cr~hl'd plan for ludran tourism. The National Committee on Tourism set up by the Government in 1986 to evaluate the CCOllOll1lC Jnd social relevance of tourtsm in lndia and to draw up a long term plan for its development submitted its report in 1988 and recommended a number of measures for ensuring accelerated growth of tourism. The basis of these recommendations a package of incentives were made available for tourism industries and the Tourism Finance Corporation (TFCI) was set up to finance tourism projects.

The development plan for tourism during Eighth Plan (199~ -97) was based 011 the 'National Action PLm for Tourism' presented in the Parliarucnt on May 5, 199~ It proposed to achieve diversification of tourism product, accelerated growth of tourism infrastructure, effective l11~rketing and, promotional efr or ts in the overseas markets and removal of all impediments to tourism. A major component of the Action plan was the development of all inclusi ve 'Special Tourism Areas' and intensive development of selected circuits. The Action Plan did not specify the infrastructural requirements and the investments needed to meet the targets and the sources of funding for the same . The "Tourism SyIlCI·g~· Progral11me" enlisting the activities and tnfrasiructural componell\$ to be provided by various ag_cn<;IC, including the private sector and State Governments was thus prepared in 1993. It was furthcr modified and converted into a 'National Strategy for the Development of Tourism' during. 1996.

These documents were aimed at achieving a greater re alisauou of the importance of tourism, J consensus on the developmental needs, positive contribution or <Ill (he inlrasrructcral Departments on J coordinated manner, higher plan allocation and introduction of new schernes : for accelerated development of tourism.

3.3 Domestic TOil rism

Tr ave! for pilg.rimag.e and learning has been an III tegral P;lr ( ol lnd lall cu I turc ever sino: the bcginning. 0 f it s civilization. Several centres of learning and religions worship developed all OVCI· the country since ancient times. This gave their impetus to the mass movement of people Irom one place to another. Development of traditional industr-ies and tr adc created th.: stream of business tl·on-ellers. Several trading routes were established and tr aders star ted fre(]llcntlIlg_ the centres of trade from distant places.

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Kerala - Exploring FIUIIft! Frontiers ill Tourism Developtuen:

The ancient rulers gave due recognition to these u-ave llers and created many wayside facilities like inns, sar ais , dhararnshalas and caravans for their benefit. These formed the tourism infrastl'tlctUl'e of India in those days. Thus India has b€;en experiencing massive movement of domestic tourists for several centuries .

. \ few centuries ago the Moghul rulers built luxurious palaces and enchanting gardens in places of natural scenic attraction. During the period of British rule in India, domestic tourism received a new direction and meaning due to the establishment of me railway and export import houses at port towns introdUcing qualitative and quantitative changes in the Indian business Tourism. In addition, the construction of circuit houses, dale bungalows and [orest lodges provided the inrra~tructure for leisure and wide life tourism. Several hill stations were also developed during the period which became the core of Indian leisure tourism. The emergence of a large 'urban middle class' coupled with better transport and communication facilities have created :l new ci3SS of holiday and leisure tourist in contemporary India. The National Action Plan for Tourism 1992 thus gave considerable 'emphasis on the development of domestic tourism including pilgrim tourism. Thus domestic tourism has become the mainstay of Indian tourism and it is likely to grow substantially during me coming years. The economic, social and cultural advantages of domestic tourism are:

I. Domestic movement of people fo~ non-migratory purposes constitutes shifts in consumer

markets of variable importance and are catalpts of the national economy.

2. It has extremely high social, cultural, educational and political value and true economic value,

although still embryonic in some cases.

3. It gener a. tes large scale employment opportunities particular! y in rural areas and restrains the

exodus of people to large towns.

4. The new jobs created to meet the needs of domestic tourists have a relatively low unit cost per

joh and it helps increase the number of jobs.

5. Prod uction methods for services demanded by domestic tourists general! y remain simple and

based on local materials.

6. It also reqUires only simple ins tall at ions an d infrastructure in transport, accommodation and

catering which would take into account local cultural, political and historic traditions.

7. It has the ability to sustain and maintain the tourism industry during lean periods of

international tourism by providing an alternative for demand substitution.

8. It contributes to an improved balmdng of national economy through redislTibution of national

income and thus provides a better environment for the growth of both domestic and inbound tourism.

9. It is the single unifying force which helps to achieve understanding between various lingui~tic, religious and communal groups living in different parts of the cou ntry. It thus con tributes towards strengthening the fabric of national unity and cuI tur al integration,

3.4 inbollnd TourislI1

Tourism is the world's lal-gest export industry. In India abo the foreign exchange earning li'olll tourism I~ the third largest (second largest in terms of net e.u-nings) after rcady made gMlllcnts and gem and

jewellery. Tourism receipts have been growing at a phenomenal rate in recent years and it has become the single largest component of the services ex-pon. The projections available indicate that tourism would become the largest export industry in India too as it has, already attained the top position in the world context.

The other benefit~ of inbound tourism are;

I. The projection of national image abroad, reduction of ideological gaps and enhancement of

international understanding are generally better achieved, through inbound tourism.

2. Inbound tourism generates larger employment opportunities per tourist and leads to more

income to local community. .

3. International tourists ,isiting interiors of the country for reasons of purity of environment and

nature contributes to the development of such areas particularly in backward regions.

4. Inbound tourism has significant linbges with the art and artifacts of the country including

handicrafts and thus contributes to the improvement of living conditions of Village artisans.

5. Expansion of inbound tourism also leads to the provision of better infrastructural facilities in

specil'ic areas and thus stimulates diversification and development of other industries.

Though India: achieved substantial growth in international tourist arrrvals since 1.951, the share of India in the world tourist !TamC still remains to be less than 0.4 ller cent. It is, however, encouI"aging to note that the average duration of stay of inbound tourists in India is one ol the highest in the world.

Considering the dimensions of the country and the multitude of attractions it possesses, the potential of India in attracting international tourists is yet to be realised. The perceived constraints in the expansion of tourism are inadequate infrastructure including poor accessibility and non-availability of trained manpower in sufficient number.

3.5 Gill Bound Tourism

A large number of Indians go a broad every year for various purposes including business, study, pilgrimage, pleasure etc. the process of economic liberalisatlon and growing allluence of people are likely to accelerate the outbound tourist traffic lrom India considerably. Though thts aspect of tourism has not been the concern of the department of T ourism so far, it has become necessnry to recognise the phenomenon and evaluate its social and economic consequences. The volume of inbound tralllc is also often linked to outbound tourism as international carriers have Lo depend on both for their operations.

4. OBJECTIVES

In furtherance of the MISSION, the national objectives of tourism development are delineated as that:

I. It becomes a unirying force nationally and inrernauonally fO$tering better understanding

between people through travel.

2. It gives direction and opportunity to the people of the country clu-ough inbound, outbound and domestic tourism to understand the, geographical and cultural diversity of nations and regions as well as the aspirations and viewpoints of others so JS to bring about a greater n .. tional integration and cohesion.

3. It offers opportunities to the youth of the country not only lor employment but also for taking

up activities of nation building character like s-ports, adventure allJ the like.

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Kern/If - £\pICJril1g Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

4-. It brings socioeconomic benefits to the community and the Slate in terms of fa~ter ccononuc growth, l3J"ger employment opportunities, better income generation and foreign exch,)ngc earning, balanced development of hackwar d areas and weaker sections, higher tax revenue to the Stat c and causes sustainable human deve loprucnt.

s. It becomes a posit ive force for the preservation and enrichment of our cultural heritage in all us

manifestations and causes accretion and strength rather than damage to our social and cultural values,

6. It becomes a reason for better preservation and protection of our natural resources,

environment and ecology aod heritage.

7. It becomes a major avenue for the people of India and other countries to see, feel and admire its magnificent attractions and achievements including natural beauty, geographical and cultural diversities, heritage of arts and crafts and industrial and scientific progress.

8. Above ail, tourism should be able to project the quintessence of our culture so as to give our people a sense of uni ty and identity, a broadening of their intellectual, emotional and cult ural horizon and a sense of belonging and pride and for the international traveller, tourism should create-a better understanding of our land, people and culture.

5. THE POLICY FRAMEWORK

The national policies with regard to tourism for achieving the objectives enumerated in this statement have to be consistent with the existing global scenario as well as national priorities and ethos. The policy also needs to take care of all possible conflicts and ensure sustained growth of tourism on desired lines. Taking into account these considerations, the follOWing policy guidelines have been formulated.

5. J Reco(]lI ilion

The economic and social benefits of tourism and its importance as an instrument of economic growth have to be fully recognised by all sections of the society. There is still a belief that the potential of the tourism would be determined by the income levels of inhabitants and is basically a leisure industry not, requiring the attention of planners and administrators.

This belief based on information gap has systematically constrained the development of tourism in the country over the years. It would, therefore, be the endeavor of the government to bridge this information gap through proper statistical documentation of the impact of tourism and its wide publicity to create awareness 50 that the economic and social Significance of tourism is well recognised and tourism is given due attention and national priority.

5.2 The Prodllct

Persons travelling to other places invariably seek a pleasant and delectable experience on their trips. The most desired tourism product thus consists of:

.:. An environment of peace and stability .:. An assurance of safety and security

.:. A friendly host sodety

.:. An industry and a Government that provide the requisite Iaciltties promptly and dHciently.

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.:. Absence of extortion and hostjlity

.:. Acces3ible tourist attractions

.:. An integrated svstem of physical infrastructure that does not fail

These include:

> lnternational air seat capacity. ;;. Internal uan~port system

,. Hotels and restaurants of quality

;;. Entertainment and recreational avenues

,.. Shopping and communication facilities

)- Well-preserved monuments with tourist amenities

,. Basic amenities like drinking water, toilets, refreshment centres etc. at the tourist sites

The national policy, therefore, will work towards creating such a tourism product to the maximum extent possible.

5.3 The Re.f(Jonsibili!)!: A 1\1l1ltidimemiorwi ACtilli!)!

Tourism consists of several goods and services consumed by the tourists at their places of visit. These are provided by a multitude of establishments and agencies functioning at various levels. Tourists also have to come in contact with various government agencies and a number of infrasrtuctural facilities are being provided by them.

The development of tourism, therefore, can not be the responsibility of any Single agency. It is also not possible to have any artificial demarcation of responsibilities between the Central and State governments as most of the deli very systems are primarily within the con trol of Slate I UT governmen ts. The focus of national policy, therefore, will be to develop tourism as a common endeavor of all the agencies vitally concerned with it at the Central and State levels I public sector undertakings and the pri va te sector.

5. 4 Co-ordin(ltwn and ~l'nelgy

The infrastructure for tourism consists of not only the on-site facilities like hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities, etc; but also includes all forms of transport and communications infrastructure and basic amenities. The provisions of an integrated system of physical tnfrastructure including air, rail, road and water transport facilities, cornrnunication systems and basic amenities like electricity, water supply, drainage and solid waste disposal systems is a prerequisite for the development of tourism in any area identified for the same.

All the departments/ agencies involved in infrastructure development have to, therefore, adopt 01 joint approach and establish synergy in the development of infrastructure for tourism. Steps will b taken to ensure the necessary linkages and synergies in the policies and programmes of all such departments/ agencies by e.9lablish.ing effective co-ordination mechanisms at Central, state and district levels.

5.5 TIle AIJIJI'()(I(.'/i and Public Parlicilmlloll

..... ..

The tourism policy of 1982 envisOIged a selective approach based on travel circuit concept in the provision of tourism infrastructure to achieve intensive development of selected centres. The National

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Kerala - ?xpfuring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

Aclion Plan for Tourism 1992 a lso reitera ted the need fOl" such a policy to achieve ~i gil ilican t im pact Oil infr astructur al development with the limited resources available. These policies, howevcr, did not succeed in view of persistent demands for several small projects to meet the needs of domestic tourist in almost every place of tourist interest. Even the government of India esscntiallv followed a scheme approach instead of area approach in providing financial assistance for the development of lOuri5111 infr.1structure. The approach for the future development of tourism has to, therefore, take into account both the needs for selective development and the demands of a wide cross section of domestic tourists. It will be the policy of government to encourage people's participation in tourism development including Panchavati Raj institutions, local bodies, co-operatives, non-governmental organisations and enterprising local youth tn create public awareness and to achieve a wider spread of tourist faciEties. However, focused attention will be given for the integr~ted development of identified centres with well directed public participation.

5.6 "flIt" ChOIce

International tourist traffic to the country is largely confined to certain selected centres and destinations at present. There is also a fair level of seasonality in tourist arrivals. As a result there is a good deal of congestlo"n and scarcity of facilities in some of these centres during peak seasons. The tourist' O"affic to some of the centres have even exceeded the carrying. capacity with the attendant problems of environmental degradation.

It has, therefore, become necessary to go beyond the beaten tracks and to facilitate direct visit of tourists to new -dcstinations. However, the choice of such new destinations for development will have to be based on their intrinsic attractions, potential for development and the carrying capacity as well as availability of resources. Steps will be taken to identify such destinations and work towards their integrated development with the involvement of all the infrastructural department:;, state governments and the private sector and to facilitate direct and easy access to those places froll) international desuna tions.

5. 7 Foml5 q/ TOl/rism

The, main strength of Indian tourism at present is it's cultural attractions, particularly the large number of monumen ts and archaeological remains scattered through out the country, its art and artifacts and colourful fairs and festivals. The country is also endowed with a number of other tourist attractions and options including beach tourism; forests, wild life and landscapes for eco-tourisrn; river and mountain peaks for adventure tourism; technological parks and science museums for science tourism; centres oi' pilgrimage for spiritual tourism; heritage trains and hotels for heritage tourism; etc. The tradition of Indian system of medicine and its curative and preventive effects ane, well known the world over. Yoga, Ayurveda and other forms of natural health resorts have thus become unique tourist attraction" of the country. There Me also facilities for conference and convention tourism and shopping tours.

It will be the aim of the Tourist Policy to diversily the tourism products in such it way that it supplements the main stream of cultural tourism. It would also be ensured that the appropriate form of tourism based on specific features of attraction and ecological considerations is developed in each identified area. The development of natural health resorts of Yoga, Ayurvcda etc along with spir itual tourism will be given adequate attention.

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5.11 Lfl"elS aU )nl'lo{JlI/flll

The principle of sustainable development stipulates that the level of development does not exceed (he carrying capacity of the area. It will he the go\·crnment's polky to ensure adherence to such lilllils through appropriate planning instruments, guidelines and enabllllg regulations.

5-!J i-'lIh/i( and PI/mIt' Sedoi' i-'rulllflJliilJ

A constructive and rnut ual ly heneficial partncrslup between the public and the private sectors thro\lgh all feasible means is an absolute nccessitv for the sustained growth of tourism. It is; therefore, the policy of the government to develop such a partnership based on mutual trust and appreciation of the compulsions

of each othe r. -

5. 10 Role ofthe (;orl'l"mmnl

Tourism is a multi-sectoral activity and the Industry is aLTected by lllany other sectors of til c national economy. The state has to therefore, ensure inter-governmental linkages and co-ordination. It also has to playa pivotal role in tourism management and promotion. In particular, the government has to:

Provide public in(rastructural facilities including local planning 311d zoning arrangements.

•

Plan tourism development 3S a part of the overall area devdol!ll1cnt Slr'ltegy.

Create nucleus infrastructure in the initial stages of development to demonstrate the potential ofthe ,]r~a.

•

• Provide sllpport radii ties and facilitation services to pri\·3le enterprises along with appropri3te incentives and land policies, particular! y with reference to land owned by government agencics including the railways.

• Introduce regulatory measures to ensure social, cultural J.lld environrncnta] sustainalulitv.

• Ensure that the type and scale of tourism development is compatible with the environment and socio-cultural milieu of the area.

• Ensure that the local community is fully involved and the benefits of tourism accrue to them.

• Facilitate availability of trained manpower particulerly irom amongst the local population jointly with the industry.

• Undertakc research, prepare master plans, and facilitate Iormulation or marketing strategi~s.

• Organise overseas promotion and marketing jOintly With the industry _ A Initiate specific measures to ensure safety and security of tourists and dTicient [aciht ation servic ... s,

• Facilitate the growth of a dynamic tourism sector.

5. ! ! Role o(Primle Sedor

Tourism has emerged as the largest ~xport industry globally and all over the globe, the pr ivate sector has played a lead role in this growth. The private sector has to consider investment in tourism from a long term perspective and create the required facilities including accommodation. restaurants, entertainment facilities, ~hopping complexes etc, in areas identified for tourism development. In general, the private sector h,)~ to;

+ Build and manage the required tourist Iaciliucs in all the places of tourist interest.

+ Assume collective responsibility for laying down industry standards, ethics and fair prActic6, + Ensure preservation and protection of tourist attractions and !!_ivc a lead in gr~'cll pracuces.

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Kernl« - Exploring FtIllUI' Frontiers ill Till/rim, Development

+ Involve the local community in tourism project~ and ensure that the beneflts or tourism JUT;.r;_' \u themin r ig::--.: measure.

+ Undertake imL"try training and ln~npower development to achieve excellence in qUJlily )'1· services.

+ Participate in the prep:aratioll of Investment glliddine~ and marketing strategies and <l$~ist III dat abase creation and research.

+ Facilitate safetv and security of tourists.

+ E ndea vor to promote tourism 011 a sustained and long· term perspective.

5.12 Fat/lila fion Sm ·1(CS

Tourists have to paH through several government agencies so as to meet the requirements under various laws. These include obtaining visas, undergoing immigration checks, obtaining permits to visit cer-tain areas, payment of fees for certain facilities etc. The endeavour of the government would be to improve efficiency in pro\iding such facilitation services and make travel a pleasant experience.

5.13 Foreign Invcslmcnls alld Illcm lillCS

In view ofl~rge investment requirements in the tourism sector and the need for maintaining high .quality standards in 'services, hotels and tourism related industries will continue to be in the priority list of industries for foreign inveistrnent.

Further, in order to offset the specific constraints of tourism industry and to put in place the required infrastructure as quickly as possible, particularly in less developed areas, appropriate incentive schemes would be considered. It would also be the endeavour or the government to put in place uniform t a: xation and land policies related to tourism sector in all the states and Union Territories.

5.14 Resources fiJI" Der1e/vplll£nl

Development of tourism to the extent desired would involve heavy investments in inlr astructurc , The resources for such investments have to come mostly from private investors, financial institutions and external borrowing. Financial viability and commercial returns are the guiding factors in such in vestments. Very often, it would depend 011 investments to bridge certain critical ga ps in infrastructure which by itself may not be co mmerciall y rem unerative , Special funds have to be, therefore, created for such investments. It would 'thus be the policy of the government to facilitate larger {low of funds to tourism infrastructure and to create a Tourism Development Fund to bridge critical infrastructure g.:tps.

5.15 RefJolls o(Specint Inferest

The seven states of the northeast with beautiful landscapes, lush green forests, exotic Wildlife, unique forms of art and culture and affable tribal societies have hitherto poor infrastructure. These states, along with other states in the Himalayan region like Sikkim, olTer enormous potential for the development of ecotourism. Similarly, the islands of Andal11an and Nicobar as well as l.akshadweep arc ideal for sustainable development of island tourism. It is also- important to revive and strengthen tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir to accelerate the economic growth of the state. The government would therefore, initiate and support special programmes and schemes for the development of tourism in these regions with a view to achieve overall economic development of the region, and as part of the overall strategy of remOVing regional imbalances.

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5. 16 CO/lu'I'Ja{/oll find DeI,e/oi)/Jlet/(

,

Tourism development needs to be properly gUided and regulated to avoid adverse impact on th~ natural environment and cultural heritage which constitute the tourism attraction. Dcspoilarion of natural environment, archaeological monuments, beaches, mountains ami places or natural beauty; disruption in the ccosystelll of cnvrronruentallv sensitive regions: destruction or traditions in the culturallv sensitive areas; clandestine ;:elling of antiques and vandalism are sume of the possible adverse elTccls 01 unilllaginative and unregulated deve lopment of tourism, A judicious balance, therefore, needs to be maintained between conservation and development, The government will continue its policy of trying to main tain balance tlU'ough plan ning restrictions and by cducatin g the people in appreciating their rich heritage and by eliciting their co-oper ation in IJre5erving and protecting it.

5, J 7 Adoption of.New Terhl1()/rwies

There have been r evoluuonarv changes in the computer and communicatiou technologies and other relevant sectors which ar~ still changing. Such technologies have helped sharing of information globally to the advantage of all. Efforts will be made to adopt these technological advances in the tour ism sector to provide better facilities to tourists and to market the tourism product, to the benefit of all concerned.

Tourism being a service industry, it is necessary to enhance its service efficiency. The policy, therefore, will he to strive towards excellence hy introdUcing professionalism through lTainirig and retaining of human resources and providing memorable visitor experience to both domestic and irucrnanonal tourists .

6. THE ACTION PLAN

The broad action plan for the implementation of the policies and to achieve the objectives would consist or the follOWing broad activity streams.

> Strengthening of institutional setup and organi~tional structure.

~ Creation of awareness about economic and social benefits of tourism and ensuring public participation in its development .

.,. Providing the requisite constitutional recognition and the regulatury mechanisms to ensure it sustained growth.

> En5uring accelerated infril!itructure and product development.

» Pur5uing sustained human resource development to achieve professionalism and excellence in services.

>- Ensuring synergy and cost effectiveness in tourism promotion and n1.1rketing.

>- Strengthening international co-operation through mulnlatcral and bilateral ilgreements.

> GUiding the development prolXs~ through market research and technological innovations.

The details or specific activities proposed to be taken up under each of the activity streams are listed in the following paragraphs.

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Kerala - Explorihg Future Fro II tiers ill Tourism Development

6, J inslitutional selub (lnd Orf!,([lu}flfiollril Sfru(/me

r The Department of tourism will be re-org<lnised and strengthened Oll a more Iuncuonal basis and with adequate administrative and iinancial autonomy to enable it to perform il~ multifariou~ activi lies professionallv and elTicie ntlv .

., "111e Board of Tourism lndustrv and Trade will be restructured to make it an effective forum for coordination with other departments, state governments and the industry .

., A Paryatan Bhawan will he set up in Delhi to house the Department of Tourism and the information offices of the state! uruon territory governments.

6.2 Creel lion of AWarelless and Public PariiciIJaliu;l

...- ...

>- Creating; public awareness about economic and social benefits of tourism amongst administrator s, planners and the masses through seminars, workshops, presentations etc.

:> Launching of carnpaiglls through local bodies, non governmental organisations, youth centres etc, [Q create awareness about the traditions of Indian hospitality and the importance of providing an assura.nce of safety and security to tourists so as to control touting, extortion and harassment to tourists.

"> Organising quiz progr.ullmes, youth packages and other events [Q spread the message of tourism.

>- Encouraging Panchayali Raj Institutions, Local bodies, religious trusts co-operatives, and other community level institutions to take up tourism promotion activities through the general rural development and employment generation programmes and specific rural tourism development

schemes. .

>- Launching entrepreneurship development and self-employment programmes to involve the educated youth in pro~iding various tourist facilities and services and thereby creating employment opportunities.

6.3 Conslilulional Recognition and Ref[ltinlo1,)' Mechanism

:> Attempting to provide the reljuisite constitutional recognition to tourism by including it in the concurrent list of the constitution.

>- Providing a legal framework through appropriate legislation for ensuring SOCial. cultural and environmen tal sustains bility of tourism development and protecting the tourists.

)- Evolving specific policies and guidelines for the development of specific forms of tourism like ecotourism, adventure tourism, etc.

)- Providin~ an institutional mechanism to deal with the complaints received from tourists and the industry so as to create a better security perception amongst actual and potential visitors.

6.4 Infrastructure and Product D(fle/nbmm!

o 4

>- Providing the re9uisite priority and enhancing the plan allocation for the development of tourism infrastructure and product improvement.

>- Gi ving gu idance and fI nancial assistance to Slate I union territory goyernments for pre l)aring tourism master plans, identifying tourism resources, prioritising development circuits and projects and specifying the most suitable forms of tourism.

>- Continuing to provide financial assistance to the state! union territory gO~'ernments for infrastructure and product development.

>- Ensuring co-ordination with other infr astructural departments tlu-oug:h appropriate institutional mechanisms to achieve ;:ynergy in tourism infrastructure development.

II

Irn plernen ting in tegr a ted I int en;;i ve deve lopmen t of tourist destinations (lor exam? Ie; :\ ~'.l, .A. F. .er , AJanta, Ellora, Sunderbans, etc.) after assessing the carrying capacity, iocal a~?iraliolls, and the benefits likely accrue to the community.

Setting up a 'tourism development fund' to bridge critical infrJstructu.-al gap~.

Encouraging the private sector to create infrastructural Faciliues b., cr e a ::ng au enab~:ng environment including appropriate incentives.

).:> Improving accessihility and promoting direct arrivals to the destination, of interest.

).:> . Providing the required assistance and facilitation services to both domestic and foreign investors for setting up t our isrn projects. Efforts would also be made to set up :'ingle window clearance mechanisms and to ensure uniform taxation .lnd land policies in each of the state! union territories. Providinz sign<lge <It important tourist centres for the gUidance of tourists.

Improving the efheiency of tourist facilitation services by coordinating with <Ill the concerned agencies, adopting technological solutions and imp<lrting training to functionaries at the cutting edge level like customs and immigration offlcials, taxi drivers and porters, guide;; etc,

Focusing on the development of ecotour isrn in the northeast and other Himalayan states Jlong with Andarnan and Nicobar and Lakshadwcep Islands and reestablishment of tourism industry in jammu and Kashmir.

>-

);- Developing the places of pilgrimage by prOViding the re9 uisite infr astructur al facili ties with a vie IV to promote domestic and international pilgrim tourism,

,. Improving tourist facilities at Boddhist monuments to promote cultural tourism.

> Developing the special tourism areas on an integrated and phafo<=d manner to promote holiday tourism.

);- Dh'ersifying the tourism product to make India a unique multi-attraction tourism destination which can meet the needs of all forms of tourism particularly rural tourism, ecotourjsm, adventure tourism, incentive tourism, conference and convention tourism, etc.

>- Developing natural health resorts of yoga, avurveda, etc as unique tourism product" of India .

.,_. Set ling up 'Paryatan Bhawan' at Dellu as one stop tourist reception centre to cater to various needs of travellers, foreign as well .B domestic, and offer air and train reservations, mone)" changing counters and information about all tourist centres,

G.5 Humall Resull ret Dtl'elopm <'7l f

-,. Str~ngthening the institutional set .. up for human resource development and inlpro\ing th~ standards of training in pr-ivate institutes tlu-ough accreditation and quality' control. It will include the s~lling up of an advanced institute of hotel management and a culinary institute apart frOIll strengthening the existing training infrastructure.

> Setting up a National Tourism Documentation Centre equipped with modem technology sptem~ to function as a repoSitory of research findings and publications on tourism.

);- Involving the tourism industrv in human resource development activities and cmuuraging them to set-up independent tr,lining facilities.

;,... Strealning and 5lr~l1glhening of guide training and training of other g.ril~s root level worker s,

6. G Tourism Prall/olivo and Jlarl: .. !ing

>- Achieving effective co-ordination and synergy with other departments, agcncie~ and the priv.ne sector in tour-ism promotion and marketing

,. Identifying potential tourism markets and segments and adopting focussed Ill .. ll"keting "Irate ;:ks based on research, to make promotional and marketing ellorts cost ell'ecuve.

12 Kerato - £,'pillriug FUll/rtf Frontiers ill Tourism Devetopmen«

,_. EnhJncing the image oj' India. as a fascinating rnuiti-attraction and destination with rich cultural heritage and a vibrant w{_·icty.

> Ob~crving [999-2000;l~ visit India year.

~ I

> Organising 'India Tourism Week' and a 'Travel Expo' every year to make it the: biggest travel show in the south Asia region.

> Developing a Millennium Mahyatra Package and youth packages.

::;:. Organising a Golden Age QUiz contest, multi-location cultural programmes and distribution of national nags in villages during Indian independence celebrations.

,. Organising Buddha Mahotsav with intern a tional seminars and exhibitions at Saruatlr/ Bodhu.J.va.

..... ..... ~ ~

> Organising photo exhibitions and creation of a photo library,

};> Launching of a multimedia CD-ROM on Indian tourism.

6.7 fntemntionnl Co-opemlion

>- Strengthening international co-operation in tourism promotion and investment through multilateral and bilateral agreements.

> Ensuring active participation in the activities of international agencies, industry associations, etc on matters relating to tourism development.

6:8 Market Research nnd Technow[a Abs01Plioll

>- Strengthening the statistical machinery, report~ng systems, research and database on tourism to measure the economic and social benefits of tourism, identify potential tourist destinations for integrated development, formulate marketing strategies and monitor the progress of implementation and impact of various Programmes and projects.

}:o Achieving Progressive computerisatlon and adoption of information technology, in providing: information, marketing and management.

7 SHORT TERM PLAN

> The Short Term Plan consists 01' the activities in the Action Plan which are proposed to be im plemen ted within a period of about one year. These are:

> Restructuring of the 'Board of Tourism Industry and Trade'. ~ Starting the construction of Bharat Par), atan Bhawan,

}:o Launching a campaign for creating awareness about socio-econormc importance of tourism );> Launching a campaign to dean-up the environment ofTaj Mahal.

);> Setting up a 'Tourism Development Fund' to bridge critical infrastructural gaps.

);> Co-ordinating with the Ministry of Urban AITairs to make available land for hotels by the land owning agenCies.

> Continue to pursue provision of appropriate incentives and tax benefits for investment in tourism infrastructure.

> Improving sign age at tourist centres and providing internationally recognised signagc at important

tourist places.

>- Improving airport Iacllitation services, to start with, in one or two metro cit)' international airports. }:o Encouraging tourism in the northeast hy promoting packages.

> Developing important places of pilgrimage.

> Improving tourist facilities at Buddhist monuments.

~ 13

=_'F €qUIl tiorr.i

.,. Ob,erving 1999-2000 as 'Vi~i1 India Year' which will include among otlrer s , the Khajurar.o Millenium

., Developing a millennium Mah.1yat~a package arid youth pacbge$. I

.,. Organi5ing a golden age £jui;>: context, multi-location cultural progr~mmcs anr] dis.trrbutron 'Jf

n a ti onal fl ags in villages during golden j ubi lee year of India', i ndepcnde nee

;;;. Organising Buddha Mahotsav with international seminars and exhibitions at SarnJth/Bodhg'l~-~ . .,. Organising photo exhibition and creation ora photo libr.l.ry .

., Launch a multimedia CD-ROM on Indian tourism.

8 COROLLARY

Tourism is the world's largest export industry accounting for about dght per cent ot the total wor id export and more than 30 per cent of international trade in services, Indian tourism is the second larg.<:~t foreign exchange earner or the country and during 1997 - 9 8 estimated foreign ex change earn from tour ism is Rs 11,032 cr orc. It has the highest employmcnt potential compMc to other sectors.

RealiSing the il"!lportance of tourism for the integrated and sustainable economic development of the country, the new government has raken following initiatives:

The new government has set up .1 committee of group of ministers to examine and recommend various ~!eps for the deve loprucnt and promotion of tourism in the country.

For co-ordination and implementation of the recommendations made by the group of mintstcrs , a committee of secretaries is being constituted.

For the, first time, the new government has increased the budg.et allocation of Ministr)' of Tourism from Rs 100 crore to Rs 160 crorc,

Recognising the importance of tourism, the go,oernment accorded the status of full-t1edged ministry to the Ministry of Tourism. It will certainly ghoe further impetus to the activities of the Ministry of Tourism.

The formulation of new tourism Pnlicy of the M.inistry of Tourism is get another step to accelerate l!~ g.row! h and get maxim Ul11 bencfi ts from tourism for social cha.ngc and economic developrncn I.

The thrust areas for tourism devclopmcn t are i

~ Indigenous and natural health tourism

~ RUr;J.1 and village tourism

~ Pilgrim tourism

:::::::> Adventure tourism

:::::;. Heritage tourism

~ Youth and senior citizens packages

After the economic liberalisation in 1991, policies were chJngcd in each and evcry J.I"t':J. but no drort.:< WC1'C nude to review the Tourism Policy which was [orrnulatcd in 1982. The development policies 01' 110 sector can remain static and unrelated to the broad na1iOl1.11 pcrspcctiv.:s. In this context , the ne w govcrlllllcnt feels that it is an opportune time to formulat", a new tourism policy 011 the comparal! ve ;J.dv~ntages, which lndia has ill its diverse tour ism produces,

14

Kerata - Exptoriug Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE POLICY

I

Creating awareness amongst all sections of society about the socio-economic benefits to tourism and

about the importance of extending warm and cordial welcome to tourists. It would be the aim to create public awareness about economic and social benefits of tourism among,t administr at or s , planners and the masses through seminars, workshops, presentations etc. Also, Iaunclung of campaigns through local bodies, NGOs, youth centres etc. to create awareness about tile traditions of Indian hospitality and the importance of providing an assurance of safety and security to touri~t" .

../

PrOViding a national focus for the de v eloprnent of tourism .

../

Diversification of tourism product and its development as a part of overall area development and removal of regional imbalances. The aim of the Tourism Policy would be to diverSify (he tourism products in such a way that it supplements the main stream of cultural tourism. It would be ensured that the appropriate form of tourism based on specific features of attractions and ecological considerations is developed in each identified area. The development of natural health resorts of Yoga,. ~yurveda etc, :llong with spiritual tourism is the main focus of the Tourism Policy. The

various forms of tourism, rural tourism, pilgrim tourism etc, are being promoted. .

../

Providing for people part icipauon in the development and disl.:J"ibutJOn of benefits of tourism .

../

Th~ policy of the government would be to encourage people's participation in tourism development, including Pancbayati Raj institutions, local bodies, co-operatives, non-governmental organisations and enterprising local youth to create public awareness and to achieve a wider spread of tourist facilities. The attention will be given for the int~grated development of identilled centres with directed public participation .

../

Creating awareness about promotion of ceo-tourism and preservation of national environment and heritag~.

../

The government will continue its policy of trying to maintain balance through planning restrictions and by educaling people in appreciating their rich heritage and by eliciting their co-operation in preserving and protecting it.

../

Facilitating. the development or a djnanuc private sector in tourism industry.

../

Since tourism has emerged as the largest export agency globally and all over tbe globe, the private sector has pbyed the lead role, the private sector has to consider investment in tourism from a. long term perspective and create the required facilities including accommodation, restaurants, entertainment facilities I shopping complexes etc, in the areas identified r or tour ism development.

../

Co-ordinating the efforts of different government departments and agencies in making India a tourism friendly coun try, and in providing the required inlrastructure.

../

The Group of Ministers on Tourism Industry and Trade has been constituted for have in formal consultations in regard to substantial improvements ill infrastructural Iacilities and to ensure synergy in development efforts.

15

./ Ensuring easy international access to India, enhancing carrying capacity and improving the 'Iualily of services,

./ The Ministry would concentrate on Improving accessibility and promoting direct arrrvals to the destinations of interest and also to improve upon the existing facilities .

./ Facilitating domestic tourism by pr~motjng amenities and facilities for budget tourrsts .

./ The Ministry of Tourism has identif ed a number of Pilgrim centres m 1 S sta tes for the development of mlrastructure to cater to the needs of domestic tourists. Emphasis is also being laid to provide amenities to the tourists at all important rounst centres all over the counlr~'. The financial assistance provided to the state gO~'ernments for tourism infrastructure basically caters to the needs or budg.et tourists .

./ Integrated development of identified tourist destinations with the employment of all the infrasrructural departrnentsv'state government and the private sector.

./ Development of tourism in the Northeast, the Himalayan region, Jammu & Kashmir and It.lands of Andarnan & Nicobar and Lakshadwcep, as part of ove~ all str<ltegy of economic development \0 the region .

./ The government would initiate and support special programmes and schemes lor the development of the region, and as part of the over strategy of removing regional imbalances.

Objectives oC new touris m policies 3 re:

... Tourism as a unifying force for better understanding.

... Tourism as a force to bring grcater hational integration and cohesion. ... To provide employment opportunities to the youth of the country

.. Balanced development of backward and weaker sections of the society and <IS a tool in terms of faster economic growth.

... Tourism as a force for the preservation and enrichment of India's cultural and heritage which include mountains various art forms, handicrafts, folk dances, traditional fairs, and festivals, cuisine's etc.

... Preservation and potential of natural resources, environment ecology and heritage

16

Kera/a - Exploring Future Froutiers in Tourism Deve!opmelll

Kerala Tourism Policy 1997

INTRODUCTION

Tourism today is an economic activity of immense global importance. Perhaps there is hardly any other field of activity where so many people are involved directly or indirectly. Needless to say, tourism has found a niche for itself as a very effective instrument for generating employment, e<lI"ning foreign exchange and therebv facilitating overall development.

Economic diversiflcauon and technological improvement create a conducive climate for tourism development, which in turn boosts economic growth. In this era of globalisation we can say with confidence that tourism will grow at a very fast pace in the decades to come. South India and South East Asia are gearing up to achieve spectacular progress in this field owing to a number of encouraging factors. India with her vast historical and cultural heritage can definitely be expected to achieve a major growth in the tourism sector with the international tourist arrivals crossing the 5 million mark by the turn of tire century. At present only less than 20 lakhs tourists visit India annually. When compared to international tourist tramc, this is a very small share, considering India's geographical diversity and area.

Liberalisation has brought Indian economy much closer to the international economic scene creating the right backdrop for the growth of tourism. It is liberalisauon rather than controls that create a proper atmosphere for the growth of tourism. We cannot alTord to overlook the capacity of tourism to generate employment. We should also be able to take maximum advantage of the possibilities of tourism aptly described as invisible export to bring in foreign exchange.

It is in a country of diversities like India, each slate has its own attractions in abundance to develop tourism. But it is necessary for each state to move forward with dear aims and programmes to help India realise its tourism potential to the fullest. It is in this context that the tourism policy of Kerala has to he viewed and evaluated.

The main aim or the Tourism policy is to serve as a guiding force to make maximum use of Kcr ala's tourism potential and also to make an ideal installment for social and economic growth. This policy is intended to provide dear vision and direction for programmes to be org.mised in order rei help realise the growth of annual international tourist traffic from I lakh to 5 lakh and annual domestic tourism traffic from 10 lakh to 50 lakh in the next five years.

TOURISM IN KERALA: POSSIllILITIES AND PROBLEMS

A physical quality of life comparable to developed nations, a population fully literate in so rkhly green a land, are factors that help transform Kerala into an important tourist state in India. In fact these are the special features that make Kerala endearing to tourists from amuent nations.

Nowhere in India can a tourist ell: perience such geographical di versity w itilin the smallest area possible. Beaches, backwaters, wildlife sanctuaries, evergn!en forests and the diverse !lora and fauna make Kerala quite distinct from other states of India. The moderate climate and the rich art and culture arc also positive factors. A happy co-existence of tradition and modcrnitv, the native colour and character of our Festivals and the uniqueness of the backwaters arc the other facets that help Iostcr tourism development .

17

Although we have such varied factors to ['Killtate tourism, we haw to admit that there are constraints l'or iB overall and many sided growth. The high density of population, consequellt non availalulitv of land, lack of professional training and distance trom the irnpor tant cities of India arc ~11 rr iticn] pcgati\"e aspects

A5 far as Kerala is concerned, tourism is a relatively new sphere of activitv. Those mlubitors of an:' d~"e10rn;ent in its initial stag~s affect tourism development acuviucs also. It is only very recently that tourism has been acclaimed as an importJllt economic activity. Precisely for this reason we find nlJny lop-sided views among some segmcnts of the public, Despite these constraints our achievements so far are by no means negligible.

It has been possible to dra w consider able a tten Don to Kerala as a destination due to our elTorts in the past few years and also to attract brge number of investors and entrepreneurs to the state, especially in the field of tourism. It has also been possible to make our markcting str.ltegy better and more extensive on the national and international trouts. Our participation in international tourism lair s - in spite of financial constraints ~ has helped create tremendous interest in KerJla as a tourist destination.

New accommodanon facilities have been set up in various part of the state during the last decade. It is a matter of pride that substantial amenities like new yathri nivascs, hotels, beach reasons, water~ide amenities, forest lodges, luxury cruisers and tourist coaches have been provided with a considerable assistance from the Govt. ol' lndia. The activities of KTDC have also become better and extensive during this period. It has to be acknowledged of course, that all the needs of the tourism sector cannot be ca ter ed to by the government alone. Constr ucti ve co-operation with the pri va te sector is inevit ab]e , joint ventures by KTDC and its suhJidiary unit- Tourist Resorts Kerala, with reputed hotel chams have already been initiated. These joint ventures will help rectify the dearth in high 9uality hotels and at the same lime help attract new hotel groups to Kerala.

In order to encourage small-scale entrepreneurs, Kerala declared tourism as an industry as early as 19S6 and announced considerable concessions and incentives. Concessions have also been declared for construction of hotels and preparJ.tion of publicity material of international standards by private entrepreneurs. Awards of excellence have also been initiated [or tOUI' operations and hotels.

In order that the employment opportunities in this field are fully exploited, it is necessary to have trained and professional manpower. The Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITrS) WAS started in 1988 with tlus aim. There is also the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering T cdlllology (IHMCT) under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India at Kovalam, These insutuuons along with similar ones in the pri\'ate sector supply uained nl.lllpower to the Travel and Hotel lndustrv. In addition to the tradiuonal festivals or Kerala, new boat races, The Great Elephant March, the Nishangadhi dance festival etc. have been specially organised during the tourist season to suit the convenience of the tourists. It must be mentioned here that all these have tremendous promotional value.

I t is true that unplanned development of certain desnnatlons and dearth of hotel chains of international standards do po:;:.,:: problems and deflclencies. But now Kcrala has been able to overcome these limttations to a great extent.

The development oriented approach seen ill publicity and mar keting, the development of inlr astructurc and transportation l .... cilitics especially airports, promotion of new destinations and the encouragement

IS

Kerul« - Explorlng Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

given to the 111·,V<lte sector will <Ill go a long way in beginJling a IWW chapter in tlu- growth ol tourism.

The planned and integrated development of the I3ebl area will certainly create a sea change in th"

~ , ~

tourism map of Kerala, When a toorist resort of nucruational standards comes into being here , til..:

Calicut- Kas~rgode belt will get the benefit of a number of projcct3, l>ig ami small.

In order to fully realise Kcrnla's t ourjsrn potenual it is llccc~~ary that the in'ie-';ll)lcnt from the Government and Private Sectors arc increased, tourism products made better and human resources developed more efficiently.

Our aim now is to ensure an interuauonal arrival of five lakh tourists l>y 2.000 AD. To achieve this it is imperative that we have a clear direction and a policy oriented approach. The public sector will he strengthened and more joint venture; will be started. Maximum encour;agement wilJ also be givl!n to the private sector. At the same time we have to he on constant vigil ~gainst the undesirable side-effects of tourism. The aim of this tourism policy is the creation of a healthy and conducive climate to aclucvc these ubjecuvcs.

TOURISM POLICY: GENERAL FEATURES AND APPROACH

The main aim of the Tourism Policy is to give a clear direcuon and guidance for the various activities and progr;amme~ to be drawn up for the ellecrtvc and successive development of tourism. The pulicy should be able to provide various concessions and incentives to entrepreneurs in tourism related activities.

A Tourism Policy drawn up with the above objective will have to concentrate on the development. of

four major sectors .

(a) Infrastructure (b) Tourism Product

(c) Human Resource (d) Marketin8

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

For an appropriate development of tourism, there necesscrjly has to be larg~ scale development in infrastructure which necessitate large scale investment. Investment hy the Government as well as the private sector will have to be stepped up.

It is a hassle free and friendly atmosphere that facilitate investment decision, As far as huge investments are concerned, subsidies and insufficient incentives are qUite irrelevant. The Government will take step~ to create an investment friendly atmosphere and also to generate confidence and faith in NRb and other investors for investment in the tourism sector.

Tourism Investment Agency will come into being soon. This will act as a bridge between the investors and other institutions in getting land, electricity, communication and other infrastructure facilities. It wi II also assist in getting and de~ring the prc- in yes tmen t formalities within a specified time f ramc. III short, this will be a special arrangem~nt to by-pass the traditional red tape.

Usually there is a de];ay in I"urnishing all the information needed l>y investors which leaves many potential investors disappointed. Thus all tourist destinations within the state will be surveyed and action plans prepared. ArrangelllCnts will be made to furnish a com pie te destination inlormati on package to ever)' potential investor. This package would contain all details such as the present inli'astr ucture , the extent and price of land owned hy the Government as wdl as by private parties, statistics regarding the present inJlow of tourrsts and investment possihilities. This will help not only speed up investment decision? hut abo plan the right project~ that are environment friendly for J destination.

\9

It should, be possible to protect traditional hcritag~ building" and Tharavadus ,md use th<:111 a~ accommodation facilities for the touri- ts in addition to the heritage hotel scheme by the Government. The State Government-will set up a heritu8c home protection scheme to provide incentive to people who come forward to convert these traditional homes as accommodation for tourists. 'I'lus will help preserve the traditional architectur-al styles and also increase accommodation facilities.

I n addition to the tourist circuits rccogni~ed by the Government of India, places wit h tourism pOI e nt i ~ I will he declared as special tourism sch ... rues and special tourism areas. Special incentives and suhsiclies will be given to entrepreneurs 10 invest in these areas. This patlem of development will help the balanced growth of tourism. There will be new arrJng:~ments to co-ordinate the acti vines 0(" the various departments in these schemes. Such schemes proposed are Calicut-Kasargode and Quilon.Aleppey w<lterw<lYs,

The destination Kerala programme intended for the wholesome development of destinations by in tegr<l ting the acti vi tic s of various de partm ents will be implem erucd to these centres also. I n order to implement this elTectivel;: and also to ensure local level part icipation , local co-ordination cornmiuccs will be formed. District level officers and special representatives will be members of this committees.

The absence of an integrated activity hJ.S adversely aflected the healthy growth of international tour-ist centres like Kovalarn. A development agency will be constituted for Kovalam and tlus will be used as an elTective instrument for integrated development. If found elfccuve this will be extended to other major destinations also.

The undulating landscape of Keral a incr-eases the lime needed to travel Irom one destination to another. This is certainly an impediment for cO\'ering more places (or a tourist who comes to Kerala only for a few days. To overcome this dillicultv it has been decided to start a helicopter service connecting inaccessible and dimcult areas. The vovernment will take the [cacl in the matter. Private investment will

c-

be encouraged and if n.:cessary, the governme:nt may go for joint venture a Iso. Luxury coaches are

indispensable for tour ism iudustrv. Dearth of" adequate number of these coaches has been badly ('elt l'or quite some time. These tourist luxurv coaches arc now considered only as contract carriages. Till': unexpected hike in the tax rates adversely affect the tour operator~ who sign contracts with their foreign counterparts in advance on the basis of the then prevailing rates. Steps will be taken to bring about necessary changes in the legisl<ltion to bring tourist coaches under .1 sep~ratc category.

The Government will take up innovative schemes 10 promote the backwaters of Kerala <1~ ~ unique tourism product and also to make usc of the maximum tourism potential and assistance will be provided free of cost and a subsidy of 25% will be given to <Ill schemes related to the product in these sectors. These include setting up of house boats, 110ating cottages, and special boat races, In short ~ special backwater tourtsrn plan will be drawn up for implementation Government will go in lor f'oreign collaboration in areas where there is no local expertise and where there is such a need in the field or tourism marketing. Deliberate and conscious efforts will also he taken Lip to protect iuvcst mcnt in tourism. The availability of technical assistance from fordgn <\~cllcics will be examined and will he II tiliscd wherever nece~sa.ry.

zo

Kerula - Erp/llring Future Frontiers iu Tourism Devetopntent

TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

The needs of the tourism iudustrv are specialised. Local expertise should be dovetailed to intcrnationa] tastes for the right pr-oduct. A concealed, deliberate ellort will be made to llreservc the 'indi'-idu<llity of the handicraft traditions and art Forms, Financial assistance will be olfered to revive and sustain lorl!:0tten traditions and dying skills. Attempt to effectively market the products of such skills will also be J~:i~ICd, Traditional designs if unscientific cannot survive in the market, l!:0vcrnnH:nt will make available nCI'· designs to help ~in these cases. Specialised training and stipends will be made available lor sud, craftsmen. Better designing, and packaging will help tourism products to a great extent.

Thc government will take immediate steps to fill in the lacuna ill the field of high quality mementos with exclusive Kerala flavour, working in tandem with the National Institute of Desig,n, souvenirs of international standards will be created. A 15 % subsidy will be made available to

such souvenir shops.

Agcncies that develop innovative tourism packages highlighting little k.J10'l,"JI lustorrcal monuments and architecture will receive help from the government in )lo)lularising them.

A sel f em ploymen t scheme has been launched in the tourism sector toge ther wi th the Kera la Financial Corporation.

This will be expanded to include more tourism schemes. Details regarding feasible proJect~ will he prepared and made available for the investors. A consortium rif jin<Jnci<J1 institutions <Jnd banks will be formed to assist this employment scheme. The governlllent will lay stress on creating employment through the developmen t of tourism.

The Tourism Reaistration Act will be strictly enforced. This Act will serve to inculcate an added sense of responsibility among the trade and an increased feeling of security among the tourtsts.

Archeological and historical monuments playa major role in enll<lncing the tourist's experience of our land. The Department of T our ism will preser ve and protect monuments that have not yet been taken up by the Archeological Survey of India or by the Archeological Department of the State. It has to be remembered that Archeological preservation and the development of tourism are not mutually exclusive processes.

There is an indivisible bond that links nati ve festivals with tourism development. Traditional fcsuvals will be given an added promotional thrust without interfering with their character in allY way. But religious festivals and tourism needs are not necessarily compatible. It is in this context that special tourism fairs and festivals have been organised. Apart from The Great Elephant March, 'Nishagandhi' dance festin.l, a Heritage Fair- which highlights the ancient culture of Kerala . will be held annually.

Kerala' s water car ni vals are legendary. The Govcrnmen twill encnurag.e and acti vel y su pport tho: organisers of boat races. A festival calendar indicating the dates of the major festivals ull the turn of tho: century will be published in advance,

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

it is inter pe rsonal relations that rCJII y form the basis of tourism. ]'recisel y for the same reason, su l"fidem emphasis has been laid on human resources development while trying. to dcvelnp the tourism infrasu-ucrure and products-

21

The two I.::c)' institutions in Keraia, now in the forefront for tr'lining pcrsonucl lor the tourism mdustrv Me KITTS (Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies) and ll-lMCT (Institute of Hotel Man.1<!enH.:nt and Catering Technology), the former under the Government of Kcrala, and the latter ~nJer the Government of India. In addition to this a large number of institutions have also sprung up in the private sector. While the policy of the Government is to encoungc such institutions, there is a genuine concern regarding certain basic standards that arc to he maintained, An expert committee will he constituted to evaluate the syllabi and training facilities provided Ily such institutions. New [aws if found necessar~' will also be introduced for effective COIHI-ol.

The existing personnel of KTDC and the Tour-ism department will be given professional training over a period of time to step up the quality lind the standard of services.

A healthy approach and total involvement of the host population are the indispensable dements of tourism.

Public awareness programmes l'eg;lrding the economic and social importance of Tourism should be conducted reg~larly. A long term planning is necessary lor this campaign. Tourism will be made a subject of study in schools and colleges.

A training programme for people from various walks of life like cab drivers, customs and immigration officers, policemen, bus conductors etc whom tourists encounter face to [ace will be organised. These awareness training programnlcs can rid people of some basic prejudices which often lead to undesirable

behavioural patterns. ~

A special training programme will be organised for the benefit of tourism entrepreneurs. This will help increase the awareness rcgarding the employment opportunities in this Field.

The working ambit of Kcrala Institute olTourisrn and Travel Studies and its training programme will he expanded. Graduate and Post Graduate courses in tourism will commence soon. Measures to convert KITrS into a national-level tourism resource centre will also he adopted.

Private estahlishments Can also contribute considerably to the Held of Human Resources and Development. Such organizations will be recognised and encouraged. Keeping in mind the increasing influx of tourists and the vital importance of trained gUides and interpreters, the government will adopt lin approach that recognizes pri v ately trained gUides and the private training institutions.

MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Tourism marketing is a specialised acti v ity requiring long term planning, market research and analysis and a clear sense of direction, The main aims of tourism marketing are to step up tourist arrivals, both domestic and international, and to increase the time and money spent hy them within the state, while enauling them to have a dose acquaintance with our life and culture. There has also to he a deliberate emphasis on projecting Kerala as it destiuation for the high quality tourist. We should be able to arr i VI! at a happy compromise between number and quality.

We will follow a marketing strategy ainled at the markets with the highest potential. Western Europe is now the large~t market [or Kerala. ·11\<: marketing will therefore be concentretcd in Germany, England, France and Italy. At the same time we cannot afford to ignore the economically developed nations uf

Keru!« - Exploriug Future Frontiers in TVl/r;SIII Development

East Asia, Scandinavian countries, the United States, Canada and the Gulf countries. The lusroric links that ~')uth Africa and Israel have with India will be used for generating outbound traffic lrorn tllo.;,:c COl!!1 tries.

I

Ker ala Tourism will make its pn:~encc felt in potential areas through p;'Irticipatioll in major

international fairs, advertisements and other publicity materials. We will utilise the tourist offices of the Government or India abroad Ior promotional purpo~es to the maximum. A t the same time we will also ollcr hospitality to travel writers and lour operatoL'~ who concentrate on Kcrala.

The new opportunities provided b~' tile electronic media will be used dTenivcly for promotion. Special arrangements will be made to produce and publicisc high quality documentar-ies on Ker ala Tounsm.

The participation and co-operation of the tour operators and hoteliers who concentrate on Kerala .ir c indispensable for a effective marketing. We will conduct joint promotional ventures with the pri,-atc sector, also involVing airlines that are interested in Kerala.

An effective marketing campaign in the foreign markets will be a very expen~ive one and can be successfully managed only with the jOint participation of the government and the private sector _ For this, ~ j~int promotional 0sency will be setup to monitor various agencies. In addition to having the authority for planning joint promotional and marketing ventures, tlus agency will also create a m<lrketing fund needed for its implementation.

International conferences and seminars have an important role in the promotion of tourism. A I~\\' convention complexes-big and small- will be constructed so as to hring in .at least a few international

confer-ences annua]lv. -

One or the most important duties of the tourism department is the dissemination of relevant information at the right time, While strengthening the e:xisting information centres at Delhi, Bombay, Madras, new centres will he set up at places like Calcutta, Agra, Goa, Jaipur and Shirnla,

A joint promotional strategy by the various southern stales in the internation a l market will go a long way to prolll0ting South India Il)' an important destination. Kerala will take the lead in this venture. This tourism policy will serve to provide a dear guideline for the growth of the four basic fJ.ctor~ lor the tourism infrastructure development, product development, human resources development and market deve lop men t.

ACTION PLAN

A compr-ehensive action plan will be drawn up, enlisting the various activities to he undertaken by dilTerent sectors in order 10 help achieve the target of five lakh domesuc tourists uy 2000A,D. An ~xp~rl committee will be constituted to help the government in the efl'ective implementation or the action plan. This committee will advise government on the availability or finance from foreign agencies for investment and also on tourisrn marketing. A state level task force will also be constituted with various representatives from the local tourism trade to help implement the action plan.

VARIOUS AGENCIES

Tourism development will be dcccntralised as much as possible. Th~ administrative set at the local! district levels in the Conn of district tourism promotion councils will be improved upon_

The area of activity of the tourism department, Kcrala Tourism Development Coi-porat.on (KTDC r , Kerala institute of Tour ism and Travel Studies (KITTS), District Tourism Promotion Council" (DTPC, will be clear lv defined and demarcated.

The nodal a.gency for tourism development planning, publicity' and Illark~tillg will be the t ottr ist t: department. The department will abo be responsible for !telling financi<ll and technical J;<.'1;<t,1IlC~ (1"(,(1'. the Government of lndia and other Iuter national agencies. In short , the director-ate willI 'Ol\~ t hc overa.. responsibili ty for a whole range of activities like 111ainlaining good liaison with the various priv,1lc tourism agencies within the state, promoting Kcrala in the iniernationa'llllark~t, ensuring thai incenuves

~ ~ .

declared by government are publici~ed and made available to the bcneficiartc»,

In the initial 5tages of tourism development, Kcrala Tourism Development Corporation was the m.un mstrument lor direct g:o\"~rnmenl investment. But it has now become neces~ar:y to rcrletme the area 0]operations and the aim; of J...:TDC in accordance with the healthv investment (rends ill the pl'i\"ate sector. Today, rather than com pe te, KTDC and i ts su bsidiarv TRKL (Tour ism Resor t s Kcrala Lim i ted) \\' ill cooperate with the priva.te sector and assist in getting support hom the government lor ~trengthenillg tourism mvesunenr. It shall also be the endeavour of KTDC and TRKI to sIep up the standards in the existing establishments. This can be done by collaborating as partners in Joint ventures with reputed hotel chains, by going in for franchising, by training the personnel, upgrading the facihucs and other' suitable steps.

The District Tourism Promotion Councils have been set up with the district collectors as chairperson fur development. These councils will have the freedom to launch developmental schemes, by mobilising funds with 10c~1 support_ But is has to be ensured that these projects arc planned ami executed to fit into the overall pa.ttern of tourism devclopment . In order to ensure ilus, the Disuicr Tourism Promotion Council will be restructured for more dTective functioning, implementing schemes ill tunc with the overall framework and ensuring local participation. Emphasis will be placed on awareness programmes highlighting the social and economic ~spects of tour ism, Awards of excellence will be instituted for professionals who have a direct interaction with the tourists. Financial ~upport and other Iacilutcs will also be made available for training such personnel.

AWARENESS PROGRAMME

Tourism clubs will be organised in colleges to create an awareness 0[" tourism among the ~·outh. Tbc dubs will be instr umen tal in creating a bcalthy and positive attitude towards tourism. Th~)· will also pia y irn por tan t roles in dissemina tin g in for mati on regarding em ploym en I opportuni tic; in tour-ism related ftelds, All these activities will certainly go a long way in building a healthy altitude towards tourism among the public in gem~ral and the youth in particular. The Department of Tounsza-wil] provide all infrastructural support for the youth to undertake adventurous trips. New scholarships \\'111 be instituted for college students and the youth for pursuing. tourism related studies.

While spre.Jding the me%age of social and economic benefus of tourism, the department of rourrsm will also take steps to educate the public regJrcling the behavioural paLlcrn approach towards tourists At the same time, the tourists will also he made conscious or cultural values and social behaviour patlCrns. TI\.i~ awareness C:l.lnpaig,n will help inculcate healthy attitudes on the part of the tourists as well as the host population and will result in mutual regard and respect.

;\tt~'Ill])\S will be made to ~el right the imt>re~,;ion tl1,1\ tourism development unlv leads to

24

Kerul« - £\1,/or;lIg FIIf"r~ Frontiers ill TCJI(rhm Development

At the same time areas where '-i'i!ll IS needed will be looked into. On the whole it will be ~·n;;lIl'cd that the lopsided and bigoted thinking of a minority oj' the population and their unioundcd, t'<.:ar...: rcgarding the undesirable eITect5 of tourism will not P05O: obstacles fWI1l the social angk lor tOUd8111 development.

SAFETY AND SECURITY OF TOURISTS

The ~afety and security of tourists IS very im poz-\ilnt and a sensitive factor in nurturing (he gl'owth of tourism. Being a peaceful state is an extremely favourable lac tor lor Kerala to help achieve the desired goals in tourism. The govl'l'nmcnt places a high premium on the safety and security or the tourists. The services of the tourism police, now in a lew places will be extended to more destinations.

The lifeguard service at ~oval.l1l1 beach, which has won the appreciation of many a tourist will be extended to other beaches and backwaters where necessary. Intensive lrainin~ programlllC$ will be organised for the tourism police and lifeg.uards. Arrangements will be made to enable the tourists to bring complaints to the notice of the Stille tourism department. Suggestions and complaint boxes will he set up a~ ~11 hotels. A Public Relations Cel! will be set up in the department of tourism to handle these complaints and take immediate follow up action. At a later stage such public relations cell will be set up at important tourist destinations also. This public relations cell will be an cll'ective means to ensure that trivial issues do not escalate into major crises by evaluating tourist respon~e on a continuous basis. The government will introduce an Insurance S"heme Jor Tourists visiting Ker ala. Under this novel scheme, a tourist, even when relieved of his money, important travel documents and tickets, will be able to undertake his return journey. There is no denying that this scheme will encourage more and more tourists to visit the SI ate with self confld ence and an increased feeling or secu ri \ y and safety.

AREAS TO BE VIGILANT

Unbridled tourism development without a clear understanding of the undesirable side-drec(~ is certainly not to be encouraged. Appropriilte controls and legal protections are indispensable for the healthy development of tourism. All tendencies that destroy our environment and our social and cultural value, will be discouraged. Necessary laws and regulatiOns to this ellcct will be brought into force.

Construction activities in environmental sensitive areas will be regulated according to action plan,; prepared in advance. It will be ensured that tourism development will not be a threat to wildlife sanctuaries ;md protected forests. Entrance to protected wildlife sanctuaries will be regui<lted by permitting tourists in small groups. A pattern of development that is ceo-friendly and that will Iacilitatc the protection and preservation of environment and heritage will ue adopted. The expertise of the forest and wildlife department and science and technology institutions will be utilised to the maximum extent for tourism development. Tourism will be transformed into an e1l"ective vehicle for the protecnon of archeological bUildings and museums. Emphasis will be placed on long preservation of tourist centres rather than on their short term development.

It \\"ill be ensured that building construction rules <Ire strit"tly observed and that they arc not relaxed in the name of tourism development. Relaxation of environment rules lor tourism projects will not be allowed. The aim of the govcrnlll<!l1t will be to insist 011 the environmental regulations for sustained tourism development. Projects th.lt will be a ti1l'cat to natural attractions lik(~ mangl"Ove forest aud other rare Jlora and tJuna will not he taken up for tourism purposes.

2S

Tlu; Government will rake C.1n~ to see that no activity that will be ,1 threat to our tradiuons either directly or indirectly will take place in the name or tourism. Any "ctivity that will injure our ~dr r.:spcct I

and pose a threat to our values and hcril.1gc will be di~couragc(1_

The vigil ag.:linst drug traffic, sexuallv t ransnuttcd diseases and AIDS wilt be strCllglllCllnl in tile nlll\L'xt of tourism development. In short the policy of the governnwilt will be 10 utilise tourism a,; Jil clicctive and active instrument to promote mutual understanding among various cultures, to instill a sense or pride in our art and cultural heritage and to nurture the fur<:..::, that work for the protection of our archeological building~ and museum".

16

Kuala - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

State Tourism Ministers' Conference

Guidelines For The Development Of Ecotourism

1. DE}<'INITION

The activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes constitute tourism. Such visits for being with nature to enjoy its enormous creations both biotic and abiotic, in a most environment friendly manner without any adverse impact on the ecosystem is particularly known as ccotcurtsm. According to the World Tourism Organisation (WfO), "tourism that involves tl'avelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specified object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and it s wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects (both of the past or the present) found in these areas" is defined as ceo-tourism. Nature tourism (ecctourtsm) is distinguished from mass tourism or resort tourism by having' a lower impact on the environment and by re'luiring less inlrastructurc development. The key elements of ecotourism include a natural environment as the prime attraction, an optimum number of environment friendly visitor's activities, which do not have any serious imllact on the ecosystem and the positive involvement of the local community in maintaining the ecological balance. Ecotourisrn can lake many forms and magnitudes. For example, forget oneself in a beau tiru I natural forest or landscape; watching of animals, birds and trees in a forest or corals and marine lire in a sea; engaging in trekking, boating, or rafting; wandering in sand dunes, etc., are some of the common forms or eco-tourrsm. Though the concept has gained importance only recently, India has been experiencing various forms or ecoroirrism all through the ages.

2. ECOTOURISM RESOURCES OF INDIA

The Geographical diversity of India has given a we a lth of ecosystems, which are well protected and preserved. These ecosystems have become the major resources for ecotourism in India. These consist or;

Biosphere Reserves Mangroves

Corals and Coral Reefs Desert~

Mountains and Forests:

Flora and Fauna and Sea, Lake & River

2. 1 lJioj;(;here reserves

Biosphere reserves aTC multipurpose protected areas to preserve the gencli<.· diversity and integrit), of plants, animals and microorganisms in representive ecosvstcms,

27

Wherever desu-ucttcn or serious 'altcrauon' of areas of high pl-im;u-y productivity like wet\,md, ':::"gr.lss beds, cora! reefs, ratufor csts, is contemplated, benefits and costs should hI: carefully ,l);sc:"cc! -_lcfore planning tour ism development actlvlries. Further, planning and pr omotton of tourism ~ho.;: u be undertaken <IS a compollcnt pari of ;111 integralcd, comprehensive resource management plall rOllr,':;cd on sound ecologic<.l principles.

The Tourism Managen1enl Plan should also establish standards for resort development, covcrin~ .l:'nong: others, the style and locations of structures, treatment of sewage and control of litter, pn.:~crv.l:JJll or open spaces and public use of fragile areas. It "hould further by down procedures to ensure lhill ~"wJge is not directed 10 the beach or the around water and solid waste like jitter, gilrbJge, trash ~IL. are ~y.>ten1atically collccted and disposed SUitably. Adequate precautionary measures should also be taken to avoid noise pollution. It should also speciry methods and materials for construction activiue s and minimise any possible adverse imp"ct oils local materials.

Physical plilnning and design should integrate community services, transportauon and tour ism. Transportation and access ~hould also be integrated with other purposes such as lndustry <mel ir adc JS cornrnunities arc: the termini for air , land and water access, Physical pl~nning !Cu- <Ill uavcl mocks, especially modem tour buses also needs to be integrated between outside and inside Ihc area of a ttr action,

4. Operational Guidelines

The kcy players in the ecotourisrn business arc the Govcrnment including the State Governmeurs and local authorities, the developers and operators, the visitors and the local communit y. EJch one of them has to be sensitive to the environment and local tradilions and follow a set of guideline;: for the successful development of tourism.

4.1 7 he (;Ol"l'l7llJIl'IIl

• The Management plan for each area should be prepareJ through pror~uion<1l landscape architects and urban planners and in consultation with the local community JS wcl! <IS others directly concerned.

• Integrated planning should be adopted to avoid inter-sectoral and cross-sectoral coullrcts.

• The architectural [ll'Ogramme for ecotourism ecru res should include controlled uccess points and cabins, roads, ~clf.guided nature trails, transportation options, mterpr etivc centres, $igns, observation towers, lodging and dining facilities, docks. garlnge dispO;JI f.l<.:ility, etc. as 1)(:1' requir-ement. If needed, living quarters and [acilitics for proj ... ct personnel also have to be provided,

• Structures creating visual pollution, unaesthetic values and non-compatible architecture should be controlled.

• Exclude developments in ecologically unstable zones and define Devciopmcnt ilnd buller zones after proper environmental impact assessments.

• E~tahli~h standards, bUilding codes and other regulations.

• Specify environmental, phYSical and social carrying cJpacitics to limit development acti vi tics.

Kerula - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Oe,v('/(J{Jlllell{

•

Ensure continuous monitoring of adverse elk-ns ot tourism act: '.'itics and irutiat e suitable corrective measures.

•

Ret'ognis,~ and award 9uality labels to ecorourism 0perato,·s,

•

,

Provide visitor information and intcrprct.uion services cO\"<.'r1Il:-! partl;'~ll~rl\'

(i) what to see (ii) how to s<.'e Jnd

(iii) how to behave,

•

It em DO: I>y way ol' brochures, LeaHI:Is, specialised guide~, ~dl-gujd~c trails, wilderness trnils, visitor information centres, etc.

Prepare and widely distribute codes or conduct to all visitors,

Launch training programmes on ecotourism to tourism admini .. "rators, planners, operators and general puhlic.

•

4.2 j)eue/o/J"'H mul Obem/ors

"

•

Respect and follow the planning restrictions, standards and codes provided by the Government and local authorities

Implement sound environment principles through sell' regulation

Practice environmental impact assessment for all new projects and conduct development of environmental audit for all ongoing _ activities leading to the development of environmental improvement progratllmeS

• Be sensitive to conservation of environmentally protected or threatened areas, species and scenic aesthetics, achieving landscape enhancement wherever possible.

• Ensure that all structures arc unobtrusive and do not interfere with the natural ecosystem to the

•

•

•

maximum extent.

Recognise the optimal environmental capacity and sociological use limiB of the site in credting tourist facilities. They should also take into account safety and convenience of touri!"';;.

BUildings should be deSigned strictly on Iuncuonal and environmental considerations and avoid over construction.

• Local materials and designs should be used in all construcuons to the extent possible,

• Physical planning, architectural design and construction of tourist facilities should employ techniques like solar energy, capture and re-utilisauon of rain water, recycling. of garbage, natural cross ventilation instead of air-conditioning, a high level of self-sulltctcncy in food generalion through orchards, eculogical farms, aquaculture, etc.

• Energy and water saving practices should be employed to the extent possible. Also practice fresh water management and control sewage disposal,

• Control and diminish ,1ir emissions, pollutants and noise levels.

• Con trol and reduce environmen tally unfriendly products such as as besros, CFC s, pesticides and roxie, corrosive, tnfecuous, explosive or Ilammahlc materials,

• Re spect and support historic or religiOUS objects and sites,

•

• Provide information and interpretive services to visitors espeeiallv on attractions and facilities, ~dfety and security, 10<:<11 customs and traditions, prohibitive rules and regulations, self-conduct. and behaviour, etc,

• Ensure adequate opportunities to visitors for communion with nature and native cultures.

• In marketing ecotourism products, customers should be given correct inlormcuon , as the visitors who appreciate ecotourtsm products are also cnvircruuentall y aware target grOll[)~,

• Training and research programmes of the comp~ny should includc cnvirourucntal issues.

31

• Prepare tourists to minimise possible negative impacts while vi~itjJLg scn~ilive environments and cultures before dep,lrting to tln- site.

Ensure safety and security uf visitors and inform them about precautions to be taken.

Exercise due reg.ltd lor the interests of local population, induding their history, tradition and culture and Iuture development.

• involve the local comrnunitv \0 the extend possible in various activities

•

•

•

Contribute to the conservation of any habitat of flora and launa and of any site whether natural or cultural, which may be affected by tourism. Mllke no open Ilres and discouragc others li'om doing so. If water has to be heated with scarce firewood, use as little as possible, Where lJOsoiblc, usc kerosene or fuel efl'icient wood stoves.

Remove litter, burn or bury paper lind carr~' back all non-degradable litter.

Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants such as detergents in streams or springs. If no toilet facilities are available, try to comfort yourself atleast 30 meters a way from water sources and bury or cover the waste.

Plants should be left to Ilourish in their natural environment and resist from tabng away I.;utlings,

seeds and ro~t~, ~ , ~

Leave 1;)le campsites clean ah.er usc, Remember that another party will be using the same campsite after your depar ture ,

Help the guid~s and porters to follow conservation measures. Do not allow the cooks or porters to t11I'OW gilruage in streams or rivers.

Respect the natural and cultural heritage of the area and follow local customs.

Respect local Niquette and wear loose, lightWeight clothes in preference to revealillg shor Is. skimpy tops and tight fitting action wear" Hand holding or L:.issing in public is disapproved by local people.

Respect privacy of individuals and ask permission and use restraint in taking photographs of others. Respect holy places and never touch or remove rdigiou~ objects. Strictly follow the guiddin~" for personal safety and security.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

4," Lowl Polm/a/ion

,

• Realise and respect the value or environment, flora and fauna, monuments and cultural heJ'itag~.

• Practice conser vauon of nature and culture as a way of life.

• Establish guiddincs to protect valuable local resources and foster tourism development.

• Realise and react to tile potential threat of investors whose opportunities for development but lack sensitivity to local values,

• Become eflccnve nature gUjd,'~ and conservationists or natural areas uy enhancing the pracucal and ancestral knowledge of the natural features of the area.

• Be friendly wilh the visitors and help them to practice ecotourism codes.

32 Keraia - Exptoriug Future Frontiers ill Tourism Developtnent

ECOTOURISM: SOME MISCONCEPTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

Eco~tourism in Kerala: Department of Public Relations, Government of Kerala

Nowadays it has become a fashion to attach "Eco" to ~very product 10 give an eliust idcnutv and make it an easily saleable item. In that way in many ways "ecotourisrn'' has be~!l misused t o serve narrow interests.

Ecotourism is not sim pl y a disposi tion. It Is a distinct tourism prod uct and has to Ill: positioned in the market accordingly. This is a "destination management" concept. A thatched roof accommodation will not mean that it is ecotourisrn. At best, it may be taken as an eeo friendly accommodation. Similar lv most often "eco friendly tourism' is also terrned as "ecotourism" by mistake. Actually both are different.

Then, in short in a most simple way ecotourlsm can be conceptualised as follows:

"Any tourism programme which is (a) nature based, (b) ecologically sust a inable, (c) where education and intcrp retation are major component and (d) where local people a re benefited, can be called ccotourism. If it docs not satisfy any orie or these components then it can not be called a real ccotour ism programme."

ECOTOURISM AND SUSTAINABILITY

Ecotourism call be considered as .1 perfect economic activity, which promotes both ~u"lainability and development. In general sustainability is defined as the "development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their needs". In tourism industry, the idea of sustainable development relates to search for a balanc .. between three elements - the tourists, the place and the host community.

The various aspects which need attention at operational level for sustainable management of ecotourtsm are given below:

•

Assessment of carrying capacity; T r~nsportation manOigemen t;

Conservation and adaptation which include continuous monitoring of natural rcsourc ... s management strategies;

Design and control of development;

Marketing effort in tunc with the sustainabilitv conccpt and Local communi ty in vol vcmeut.

•

•

•

•

•

Local community involvemcnt is very much crucial for the sustainable ecotourtsm prill'tiees. More broad based democratic participation of the local communities in planning and implementation of ccotourism programmes will ensure long term sustainalnl ity.

PLANNING FOR ECOTOURISl\l

For ecorourism to be sustainable, environment pbnning and Ill~nagclllcnt of natural are as are nece%ar:·. The mmagement plan for an area should specify objectives for tourism and natural resources

JJ

man<lgemcnl and de t ermine how -ulficieru income C.111 be provided \0 the area ~~ ,111 incentive for im proved manage III er, I.

Studies related to en vr oruucntel im paets of tourisr» h,lS to be undertaken ill order to assess the IC~rr)'ing Capacity olthe areas In ecotourisrn context, Carrying C~pacit: means the maximum level of visitor lise an area can accornmc-cate with hIgh level satisfaction for visitors and few negative impacts on resources. EcologlcJlly, rouris r; -. lll1p.lc't can :)c detcrnuned by human induced ~yll1ptOlll:1 such as c!J,mgsd animal bchaviour, reduced r . ..:mb":T of spet-'Cs, erosion, changes ill wat- .. ..- qualitv etc. Base line (htJ 011 lrcqucncv of tourist visu , tour ;~oup size , kngth of :1tJ)' and activit)' p;lttern are required to develop, appropriate maJl~gelllcnt stratcg~c".

Ecorourism activitic s include bird watching, trekking, moum ainccrtujj, horse riding :.nd elephant riding within forests, wilderness trails, st ayillg in natural caves, studying about nora and fauna, simple bush walking, fishing, anir; .al behaviour studies, ecologIcal studies etc.

In the planning pro.::~s:;, care should be taken to ensure the pal,ticipJtion of component players of tourism industry and Other stake holders such as private sector , local communities, conservation gl'Oups etc.

It is in the interest ot the immediate beneficiaries of ceo tourism to maintain cnvironmcutal quality of natural areas, However, this need no t be felt by the tour oper.ltors as being seen in the present day context. They 'may trv \0 get maximum income within a short period of time even at the risk of cnvtronmental deg,r .H~Jtion, Due tu \h<: nature of business compdilion, self.regulation 011 the part of tour operators and tourism project developers to maintain the quality of nauual areas is non- existent or inadequate, Hence it rs necessary 10' have externally imposed e nvironmcutal jlolicy measures whether regubtOl'Y, technical or economic to provide the incentives for individual tour operators and development corpor auons to under take good environmental pbnning and management.

In ccotourrsru planning process, the [ll'OJllc of the e co-tourrst has \0 be considered. Generally, there are four types of ceo-tourists.

1. Dedicated Eco-tourists: They travel to an area for highly specialised purposes such as butterfly or bird watching. They won't require much facilities [.lUI they require expert natural history tour guides to educate dlem, They are also willing to pay more for these highly specialised services,

2. General Eco-tourists: Thev seek attr actions such as rJfting, trekking etc. Here also the principal attraction is unaltered nature. Th<!y do not require a grcJ.t deal of inlrastructure [JUt expect ,1 high standard in U1e ~ualit)' and nature ol' thc educational information that is supplied to them.

3 _ Casu a 1 Eco-tourists: Thcy visit special nature attractions as a pal't or their holidays. But these are not their rrin\J.r~· focus of visit. They are not much concerned about the unique quality of the places,

4, R(_·crcation Ec o-vour-ist s: Tllc), n0n11all), usc natural areas Cor rdaxing. They are not ceo-tourists but appreciate th.: g.reenery, They prefer some level of illfr,,~tructurc de ... clopmcnt ,

Based on the existence or dlllerem types of eco-tourtsts, the destination areas and types of nature tours should be diverse, as diversified nature tour industry is more cconornlcaliy viable ~nd stal>lc,

34

Keral« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourissn Devetoptuent

Government of Karnataka Guidelines for

Eco- Tourism

The Karnataka Government has givl!n the following Guidelines for Eco-Tour ism prOjC(H.

a) The promoters sho uld provide basic infrastructure Ii ke general san ita tion, parking. factltt y, approach road and a dean en vironrnen t at the pro j cct ,

b) The promoter should tap non-conventional energy resources like solar enagy, bio-ga~ energy, etc.

c) The promoter should harvest rain water.

d) The promoter should use vermi compost technology

e) The pronwter should recycle the water.

The Tourism Department (of the State of Karnataka) also takes neCe5Sar)· cognition of ecological and environmental aspects before dearing large tourism related projects. The State Government has a Single Window Agency (SWA) which scrutinises the (large) tourism projects and provides clearance after considering various aspects.

Hence, the State of KarnataL::a places importance to "Sustainable Development" in tourism sector as a whole, which also includes eco-tourism.

The Karnataka Tourism Policy in force from 30th May, 1992 has been revised and continued upto 31- 05-2002. The major highlights of the incentives and concessions available for tourism proJecl5 arc M follows:

I) Investment subsidy 10% to 35% subject to ceiling of Rs. 35 lakhs in c.ltegory A, B. C, 0 and E locations

2) E xem ptio n from sales tax from 3 years to 7 year~ in catego ry B, C, D and E locations (Nil in Category A)

3) E xern ption from luxury tax from 3 years to 7 years in Col tegory B, C. D and E locations (Nil in Category A)

4) Additional incentives 15% for utilisation of non-conventional energy resources subject to Ceiling of Rs.10 lakhs.

5) E xem ption from Stam p duty and concession in rcgislrnlion charges.

6) Electricity tariffs at the rate applicable for industrial undertaking for tourism industry prOjeds.

7) Waiver of fee for converting agricultural land into industrial/ commercial lands.

8) Additional concessions to special categories of entrepreneurs SC / 5T's, Minorities, Women entrepreneur Physical handicapped and ex-servicemen)

35

')) Special incentives for larg:e tourism, investments.

The package of incentives was revised during 1996-97 and more aW'acl ivc incentives and concessions have been proposed for the tourism related projects. The lICW ]lacbg.:: of incentives will lUIllC into d'C"d frOll] 1-6-1997.

36

Kent/a - £-..:p/urill1{ Future Frontiers ill TOllri~1I1 /Jel'l!/oplIIl!lIf

Tamil Nadu Tourism Opening the Spice Routes

(The Economic Times, 27 July, 3 & 4 August 1999)

Tourism plays an important role in the socio-economic development of our country. It is abo one of the major sources of earning foreign exchange. By strengthening the existing infrastructure facilities, we could not only promote Tourism but also serve better to the local community. Tourism promotion. also creates employment in urban as well as rural areas.

Tamil Nadu has a variety of Tourism products and is 101Own all over the world for its rich cultural heritage. It attracts more and more domestic and inhound tourists who visit our state, to enjoy the culture, rich tradition, !lora and fauna and the vast stretch of beaches.

TOURISM IN INDIA

The Governmeqt of India, Ministry of Tourism has announced the Year 1999-2000 is the "Explore India in the Millennium Year" and wanted the states to gear up all tourism activities so as to attract maximum domestic and inbound tourists.

The number of inbound tourists who visited India in 1996 was 22,87,860 in 1997 it increased to 23,74,094. Thus il has witnessed 3.8% increase over the previous year. During 1997 the number of domestic tourists stood at 15.62 crores.

In India, among the foreign exchange earning industries, tourism occupied the 3"! position in the gross earnings, while in the net earnings it stood at the second place. The lOI-eign exchange earning through tourism in t990-91 was Rs.2,612.5 crores. This multiplied four times in 1996-97 and it reached an all time high of Rs. 10,417.06 crores domestic production was 5.6% and in the employment sector 5.8% was through tourism. The total number of tourists who visited Tamil Nadu Jn 1997 was 195.654 lakhs. During 1998 it increased to 210.50 lakhs registering 7.6% increase over the last year.

TAMILNADU TOURISM POLICY

The concepts and guidelin~s adopted by Government of India while drafting the 9'10 five-year Plan were home in mind while draftillg the State Tourism Policy.

1. Facilities specifically required for each tourist centre will be provided for the benefit of the inbound tourists.

2. To prepare a Master Plan for specific tourism areas, to identify the deficiencies in infrastructure

and suggest integrated intensive developmental activities.

3. To encourage private investments in tourism promotion and arrange to channelise th.rough a

single window clearance.

4. To aggressively campaign and pubhcise, any tourism product in other slates and foreign travel

marts,

37

5. To constitute Tourism Development Committee in :Ill the district. and in the stale

headquarters.

6. To propagate cultural tourism !ntensively by conducting various festivals.

With a view to promote domestic tourism, it is necessary to create awareness among the public by di5>'emin:lLing information about the important centres in our state. Hence during 1997-98 we h.we opened Tourist Information Centres in Hydcrabad, BangaJOI'e and Thiruvananthapuram. Already we have tourist oOkes in 14 important tourist centres in Tamil Nadu besides New Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Panaji (Goa) through which tourist information is provided to illl tourists.

TOURISM AS AN INDUSTRY

The Government has declared tourism as an industry and ordered to gr:lllt concession and subsidy for the follOWing schemes commissioned on or after 20/11 t 992.

I. One, two, three star hotels with an outlay of Jess than Rs. tOO (Tore in places other than Chennai,

Coimhatore and Madurai.

2. Amusement.parks, A.C. coaches to be operated by appro ... al tour operators,

3. Golf Course

4. Government approved restaurants.

LOANS

Loans will be gi v en to tourism projects as per the interest [ixed by the Government or Reserve Bank of India from time to time, by Financial Institutions.

CAPITAL SUBSIDY

Capital subsidy [or new tourism projects 'at 10"/0 of investments excluding cost of land will be granted subject to maximum of Rs.IO.00 lakhs per project.

GENERA TOR SUBSIDY

Governor subSidy for new tourism project at 15% of the cost will be granted subject to a maximum of Rs_S,OO lakhs per unit.

CENTRALLY ASSISTED SCHEMES

According to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tourism, the Stale Go v ernment e ... ery )"cJr recommends schemes for receiving Central Assistance on priortnsed basis. As soon as the Central assistance is received. the State Go v ernment will release its share: Schemes completed during 1998-99

1. Wayside facilities at Sripermbudur 2.Tourist Lodge at Pudukottai,

ECO- TOURJSM

Tourists from all over the world love to visit natura! scenic spot~ and cco-Fricndlv environs. They do includo! eco·friendly tourist spot., in their itinerary while ... isiting Tamil NadlL Out of the total number

38 Kerui« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Deveiopment

or tourist; about 25.4 pCI' cent of the tourists have, visited natural sUI'l'ounding; in [';,nul 1'\.ldu (Uring 199/,

Among the 9 biosphere reserves in India two (One in the Nilgiris and another in the Gulf of Mannar J are located in Tamil Nadu, The State Government has declared the coast area between JM\lHubclu and Pondicher ry as Special Tourism Area. A number of eco-friendlv tourism activities like golf course, beaching resorts, private sector promoters in this area propose adventure sports. The Department of T ourisrn has been takin~ concerted efforts in co-ordination with other Govcrruneru Dcparrmcnts to <!ncouragc tourism proJccts

To explore the eco-friendly Tourism potential (without alTecting it) in the Kurusadai Group of Islands, works have been taken up to strengthen the eXisting infrastructure. Eco-friendly adventure tourism activities are proposed at Kolavoi lake, Chengalpattu, Pulicot Lake near Chennai and at Pitchavarar» near Ch.idambaralll.

COASTAL REGULATION ZONE

TIle Government of India has notihed the coastal area under Coastal Regulation Zone and divided into 4- zones (Le.) CRZ I, CRZ II, CRZ Ill, CRZ IV.

Coastal are':! in Tamil Nadu comes under only three zones (CRZ I, CRZ II & CRZ III), About 1000-bll~ long coast line in Tamil Nadu with abundant tOUri,;111 potential helps generate more economic acuvities in India, especially in this state.

The stipulation that no industrial or hotel activity can be undertaken on the seaward side of East Coast Road has negated the cOllcept of Beach Tourism. The State Government has requested the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to remove the said conditions and permit tourism oriented acrivities subject to Coasr.a.l Zone RcgulatioJl~.

STATE INSTITUTE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND CATERING TECHNOLOGY, TIRUCHINAPALLI:

State Institute of Hotel Management 30d Catering Technology, Tiruchinapalli has been functioning under the, Department of Tourism. It otTers three years Diploma in Hotel Management and C a tering Teclmology course since 1994-95. This institute has been upgraded as State Institute of Hotel Management and Catering' Technology and is runctioning from 1998. One-year full time Certificate Courses are also otTered in the institute. Every year students are selected for admission through written Test and interview.

This institute receives gnuH of Rs, 11.00 lakhs every year from the State Government Total strength in the institute is 384 students, who pass out or this institute get placement through campus interview and a large number of students hailing from rural areas get employment opportunity through this institute.

EXPLORE INDIA IN THE MILLEl'\'NIUM YEAR:

Government of India Tourism Department has declared 1999-2000 as Explore India ill the Millennium year and a number of activities have been planned, To attract more Forei~n 'I'our isrs .lJld also domestic

39

tourists, the Department of Tourism will organise new fairs and festivals, and celebrate other regular festivals enlisting the support of privAte institutions in hospitalily industry" More tourism-oriented projects will be implemented at all tourist spots" New advertising c<lmpilign is taken up, and new publications will be brought out" Innovative advertisements will be released through popular' T\" and journals"

The Tourism Department and the Tourist offin:s in the offices in the districts will be computerised Cor the dissemination of information to the tourists.

It is also decided to utilise the Durotron Hoarding at Airports to publicise the tourism potential <lnd services. To coincide with the Explore India in the Millennium year celebrations, n"DC has decided to introduce more number of package tours for the benefit of tourists. Hotel Tamil Nadu run by the corporation will be upgraded providing more fddlities and giving facdift.

TAMIL NADU TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited was incorporated during the year 1997. It made a modest ·beginning with 5 Tourist Bunga.lows and two coaches with the object of prOViding necessary services in Tamil Nadu for the visiting: tourists. It has made rapid strides since then and today has earned the proud distinction of owing the largest chain "of hotels numbering 36. The bed strength has increased from 253 in 1971 to 2400 in 1999, The Ile et strength has increased to 26. '!TDC has established tilt: follOWing tourist amenities in the State.

I) Hotels 36

2) Youth Hostels 8

3) BoatHouses

4) Restaurants

5) Snack Bars

6) Telescope Houses

7) Mobile Restaurant

8) Garden

9) Tourists Service Centre (Petrol Bunk)

10 3 2 4 2 3

Youth Hostels have been established mainly with the object of prOViding accommodation to low budget tourists at a very nominal rate ofRs.S01- per bed per day.

New Units ina ugurated during 1998 -99

(I) One additional block of 16 rooms <II Krishnagiri

(2) New hotel at Courtalam with 12 double ro orns

(3) (4) (5) (6)

Two additional Cottages at Palani

Boat house at Ponnertkarai , Kanchecpuram Suspension Bridge at Hogenakbl

Boat House at Kurubakonam

40

Keralu - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Devetopment

STEPS TAKEN DURING THE YEAR 1998-99

-------------------------------------------

(I) Old luxury coaches were replaced with new coaches by availing of loan from Tamil Nadu

Transport Development Finance Corporation.

(2) Open tenders have been called for to operate a Cable Car Project at Ooty on BOT basis (huild,

operate and transfer). The tender formalities will be completed with the assistance of the consultants and work will be trusted soon.

(3) The Government has sanctioned Rs 100 l<lkhs for upgrading major hotels at Mann II ap uram ,

Ooty, Kodaikana] , Kannyakumari, Rarneswararn and Madur ai. The upgradation works will be taken up soon.

(4) Computers have been installed in major hotels with Government of India and State Government

Assistance.

(5) TTDC was put on the Website with the address: bup://www,t;'lllliinadu tourism.corn The

complete detalls about the p.1cbge tours, accommodation fad lilies and the various tourist l'hce~ ill Tamil Nadu have been installed at this site. This has helped the tourists from various countries like Germany, Australia, France to book hotels and packag.e tours directly utilising the Internet facility.

(6) The Government has accorded approval for letting out 15 hotels of TIDC on fr.mchise basis.

Based on the Government orders, open tenders were called for, for frllncbising 15 units. Orders have already been issued for franchising five hotel units.

It has been decided to concentrate on the existing profit making hotels by upg!'ading the facilities and the services. Hence all the new hotd units which are likely to be completed in future would be let out on franchise basis so that the resources ofllDC can be utilised for upgrading the existing hotel",

STEPS PROPOSED TO BE TAKEN UP DURING THE YEAR 1999-2000

(1) It has been proposed to install amusement equipment at Ooty and Kannyakumari at a total cost or Rs.25Iakhs.

(2) It has been proposed to set up the adventure Water sports centre at Kolavoi Lake in Chengalpattu District.

(3) in pursuance of the High Court Order, TI'DC had removed all the encroachments in the Multukadu site in an area or 39 acres, with help of Disu-ict Collector, Kancheepuram and it is proposed to invite entrepreneurs for establishing an Eco and Natural Health Park in the site.

TRAN"SPORT DIVISION

rrDC has earned the proud distinction of being the only Corporation to operate I'Kbge tours covding. all the States in the Southern r"'gion, namely Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherrv and Goa. This has proved to be a major boon [or inbound tourists.

TIDC has been endeavoudng to introduce several new tours to meet the growing demands of t:he tourists. TIDC has introduced the rollowing new tours during 1998-99.

(I) 14 days Puri, Gaya, Kasi, AlIahJbad tour covering the States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orrssa, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnat~ka.

(2) 12 days Mumbai, Ajantha, Ellora tour.

(3) 5 days Vainava Temple tour covering 18 holy shrines in Pandianadu (out of 108 holy shrines).

The Transport Division suffered a major set back during the peak season of December '98 due to [he stl,ep fa II in the arri val of Malaysian Tourists. However, Me [lS wen: taken to ta P the poten u ul 0 r touri 51,;

41

availing of LTC facilities during this period and had operated record num ber of package tours covering Tamil Nadu and South India.

TTDC orgilnised special package tours covering important touris! places in Tamil Nadu lor the Gend'it of 1500 employees of MRL. It has been planned to organise similar pcbge tours for the employees of other leading Public Sector comp<ll1ic~.

SALES PROMOTION AND MARKETING

(I) Tie-up arrallgclnents haw been made with the B,H.E.L. 1"01- accommoclation of 200 room

nights at Courtalam.

(2) Tie-up arrangements have been made with ITDC for booking the hotels ofTTDC through their reservation net work. IT DC had been booking only the p~ck~.s;c tours of TTDC till date and hence it has been proposed to extend this facility to TIDC hotels also.

(3) Tie-up arrangements have been made with the Training Centre at Reserve Bank for organising

Special P~cbgl.' tours on regular basis for their trarnees.

(4) Indian Oil Corporation I'm' providing accomrnodanon at Coimbatore , Madurni, Ootv ~lld

Kodaibnal for the employees of IOC.

(5) Tie-Ill) arrilngemenls are being made with Indian Bank for prOViding Holiday Home facility to

the i r ~tarr.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCES:

TTDC has achieved a I urnover of H.3,2466 lakhs during the year 1997-98 turnover Ior the period 1998- 99 is estimated at Rs2750 lakhs representing a growth of 12 l)er cent during 1998-99 with the ll-anchising of loss making units. It 1$ anticipated that the pro!ltaGility of TIDe would improve Significantly during 1999- 20(}() even after reckoning the huge financial commitments con~eqllellt to the implementation of the 51 Pay Commission recommendations.

42

Kerula - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

DRAFT WILDLIFE TOURISM GUIDELINES FOR INDIA

Government of India, Ministry Of Environment Anti Forests, March 31, 1994 (Sanctuary Asia Vol. XIV No.3, 1994.)

OVERVIEW

Under instruction from the Hon.Minister of EnvirOlllllell t , a subgroup of the Project Tiger Steering Corumittee consisting of Mr. Br ijendia Singh, Mr. A5hok Kumar, Mr. Satl Puri, Mr. Valnnk Thapar , Mr. Bittu Sabgal and Mr. Arun Ghosh, was formed to draft a position paper as the first step towards the Iorrnulation of a wildlife tourism policy for India.

The group lirs; discussed the issue at the Project Tiger SI<":eriLlg Committee meeting held in P~ryavar;lll Bhavan on January 6, 1994-, and subsequently at the office of the Field Director in New Delhi on February 14-, 1994. After this, individual members wen': in contact with each other regarding the draft policy statement and what follows is the result of their collective endeavours. In drJfting these guidelincs, we have taken into consideration the recommendations made to the l\-\inistry by the Committ ee Jor Afallo[Jcment oj National Parks and Sanctuarics and Tourism under the Chaj rmanship oj the late ,ttL Suail K. Roy in 1 990.

Once the basic approach and draft is approved it would need to be re-organised so as to convert it into a "Guideline Documcnt" for PA m~nagers and State wildlife wardens. At the next Steering Committee meeting, we might like to discuss the draft and consider convening it with additions, deletions and su ggestions into a national policy for wildlife tourism.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. At the very outset it was recognised that a sensible tourism policy could be one of the most effective conservation tools, -..vhich could be used to help protect India's v.wishing wildernesses. Since mOM of what remains can now be found largdy in protected areas, it is inevitable that our sanctuaries and (in exceptional circumstances) national parks be carefully used for strictly controlled tourism in specially demarcated tourism zones. In this endeavour it was unanimouslv felt that the Ministry of blvirOlllllent should coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism so that we obtain their participation in the finalisauou and execution of J national wildlife tourism policy. Unless this is done, the policy m~y remain a p~per exercise

Lt W,lS also recognised IhJ\ in order to usher in a publicly supported, sustainable tourism drive it is imperative that forest guards and gUides be given J sense of pride in their job. This in turn , it was recognised, could only be achieved if the Ministry was able to institute a proper trilining: and ortentauon programme for such key personnel. One way to achieve this would De by enlisting: the cooperation and help of NGOs and individuals who live around our various reserves and JSkillg the Wildl:fo lnstit ute tif lnd!« (WIl). Bombay Natural Hisiory SOCiety (BNHS), and WorldWide hmd Jor Nature - India (lJfWI'.!ndio) and other such proven instiWlion LO conuibvte their expertise and resources, The idea would be to emphasis at the very outset that the animals should not be subjected to stress and disturbance, as this would scr iouslv aOect

43

their behaviour and breeding ecology.

It is to the credit of the Indian government that from 10 national parks and 127 sanctuaries occupying about 25,000 sq_ kID in 1970, the total protected area network. in 1991 went up to 132,000 sq.km with 66 national parks and 421 sanctuaries. One of the objectives of promoting wildlife tour ism should be to canvass support [rom the general public, particularly local residents, for an increase this area to 1,83,000 sq. km. that is, around 5.6 per cent of the country's land area, comprising 147 national parks and 633 sanctuaries (WI! recommendation),

2. It was further recognised that a judicious mix of nature-orientation and strictlyenforced rules and regulations would need to be applied so as to achieve the twin objectives of offering tourists an enthralling experience ... while guarding against the possibility of tourism-related problems causing damage to thl: very wildernesses which require protection. RULES AND REGULATIONS must be worked out and handed over to every park manager with instructions to display the same prominently outside the park and also to make such a document readily available to tourists in English, Hindi, plus at least one local language.

Such rules would need to be finely tuned by each park manager to incorporate his or her own unique and typical concerns such as not approaching nesting sites, or dosing approach roads on account of disturbance to a tigress with week-old cubs, preventing lise of loudspeakers and two-in-ones, prohibition from bringing in exotic plant species, prohibition on the usc of [lash for photography, restrictions on the entry of inappropriate vehicles etc.

3_ Before Iinalising any policy on tourism, it was fell that a series of consultations and debates should be encouraged under the auspices of the Ministry or Environment 50 that the views of all those involved or affected by future wildlife tourism activities are ascer tained. This would include the actual communities in whose midst such tourism will operate the t01l1- operators, wildhfers and policy makers including state wildlife wardens and park directors. This proCl'ss shoul d result in an official wildlife ]>nlicy [or India by March 31, 1995. The process of consultation and finalisatton would be conducted over the next 12 months and should involve:

a) Public meetings in New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Bangalore, and Madras inviting people's comments on me issue of wildlife, tourism.

b) Actual Held visits by subgroup members to at least six (preferably more) representative wildernesses - Bandhavgarh, Pcnyar , Corbett, Perich, Rantharubhcr and Gir _ Discussion would be held with villagers, transport and tour oper:J.tors, forest guards, park managers and local co nservationists.

4. Through a press release, the Ministry should also invite comments and suggestions from the general public. A d)-ali: press note would be prepared by the subgroup upon approval of the ideas presented below

S. Wildlife tourism zones should remain dosed between dusk and dawn each day. Additionally, the Park Manager may exercise his discretion to close the Park during longer duration i.e , during the monsoons, or even at the pinch period when the wildlife might be unable to tolerate the additional stress of human intervention into their daily lives.

44

Keral« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

BACKGROUND

While acknowledging the potential of tourism to offer gainful employment to many thousands of people, it should be made clear that the purpose of inviting people to visit lndia to view wildlife, or to

- encourage people from urban India to visit sanctuaries and national parks, should NOT be to extract the maximum possible money from such visitors in the shortest possible lime. Rather, it should be to oner them an unique experience and inSight into a world of peace and natural wonder. It should a150 be our objective to drive home the fact that the lifestyles of those who Jive in our villages are considerably more environment-friendly than that of most tourists who should look upon themselves as honored guests· not customers out to buy goods and services in the marketplace.

As such we should be looking to promote sustainable, moderately priced, clean and wholesome - rather than live-star facilities. By and large, tented camps and dormitories should be encouraged and where permanent construction is set up, the architecture and design should blend m with the surroundings. We should also ask th(~ Ministry of Tourism to help us orient visitor-s from the vcr)' first stage itself - at the (loint wher-e we can canvass their- visit - to come to India in search of a holistic and 'complete nature experience', rather than merely to see a tiger-, or an elephant, or a lion,

It should be our endeavour to offer as "ncar to nature» an experience to all visitors. This would in facl allow all Park Managers to turn the "lack of luxury facilities" to advantage by plaCing eco-tourists on a 'natural pedestal' by stating that 'unlike others who crave luxuries. Those who COI1l<! 10 such remote destinations actually want to be near nature and 'far from urban comforts'. In other words, we would like residential structures to blend in with the surrounds, we would not want any bailing to take place and we would urge that once in the forest, the tourist should not be subjected to the Sight of loud sign posts and other such 'man-made' 'instructions' which merely serve to brine the visitor 'down to earth' from what should ideal! y be a 'heavenly natural ex perlcncc'.

Tourists should all be made aware of the provisions of The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 as amended in t 991. formal and non- formal orientation centres must be set up in evel·y reserve and all first lime visitors should be routinely in troduced to the forest by means of short talks which could even be held under just outside the p;u-k gates under the shade of a tree, or in an orientation centre if one has been constructed. Here it should be explained that the prime purpose of these del kate areas is to hold, forever, the precious bio-diversity, which evolved on earth over the eons. It should be pointed out that while the forest which they are about to enter no doubt benefits elephants, tigers, deer, birds and insects, such areas also supply humans, particularly Indii1.'~ 60 million tribal people, with uncounted goods and services, such as water, fuel, fodder, fibre and food. There is gr-eat need, therefore, to transport people from a far to these wildernesses so that the appreciation or nature is rooted within their consciousness,

THE NATURE OF TOURISM

Each reserve has its own particular charm and its geographical characteristics will determine the best way to view it. Day-rrippcrs must be allowed inside reserves, but this should not be permitted in the form of uncontrolled picnics, which could result in danger to the tourists, disturbance to wildlife and fire and other hazards to the habitats. The routes of day- trippers should be

45

pre-determined and may need to be somewhat removed from overnight visitors whose tranquillity would almost certainly be disturbed lJy hordes of people in a hurry.

Most often, real appreciation can only emerge when the tourist spends a few days at the site to allow the city to seep out of his or her system, while the wilderness seeps in! Transport, of course, is a major limiting factor for most reserves. But in most of the larger_ complexes a combination of buses, elephants, private car, and even cycles and trekking (where there is no fear from carnivores or elephants), could allow visitors to see the reserves at their own pace.

Using the services of established institutions such as the WII, BNHS, WWF-India etc .• the Environment Ministry should attempt to create a cadre of knowledgeaule guide~ and experL~ in all the states. These persons could be used as resource people by the PA managers to accompany /ortcnt visitors.

While tourism can and should p];IY a positive role in ensuring the long-term survival of our wilds, - we should not forgel tourism's potential dark face. Most often the adverse effects of tourism emer~'s where commerce replaces education as the prime-motivating factor. Luxury, tourism is particularly prone to abuse, as is uncontrolled mass tourism ... with quick-operators searching to squeeze fast-money by l-ramming too many visitors into fragile wildernesses. In the case of well-to-do travelers seeking adventure, we have seen that most choose to visit remote areas to be one with nature. _. but that they invariably demand the creature comforts of urbania. This causes problems of waste disposal, [uel-wood consumption and also social tensions when villagers, prevented Irom accessing forest wealth themselves, sec rich outsiders enter freely as latter-day maharajas, This has been a particularly vexing factor around Indian wilderness areas where even government servant'! are treated as royalty by park authorities, who are otherwise ruthless in their treatment of locals.

Tempted by the foreign exchange (or major rupee income) they bring, policy makers unfamiliar with the imperatives of environmental protection sometimes turn a blind eye to the negative elTects of luxury tour-ism, •. until it is too late, Unchecked, such policies eventually destroy the very assets that attract people from distant destinations in the first place. Discerning tourists, of course, stop frequenting ruined destinations long before they and ruined.

It is impossible to 'police' tourist behaviour beyond a point. It is imperative, therefore, that tuur uperators be made to attend orientation progr<lmmes themselves so that they are able to pass on the llpl'ropriate value systcms to the customers they handle. If, with the help of the Tourism Ministry, we arc able to show how such an attitude would actually profit them by attracting 'gt'ecn tourism' it should he possible to achieve by persuasion what cannot be achieved by command.

If there is one central theme, which should gUide wildlife tourism efforts in India, it should be to use tourism as an educational tool for conservation, It would be self.defeating to try and compete with, or out-do, industrial nations by alTering 'plastic' and sanitised five-st.v luxuries to their citizens - not merely will we damage our environment, but we will almost certainly lose what little respect we still enjoy in the world community for caring so little about our own heritage,

Tourism policy planners within tile Government of India, as also tourism promoters in the pl'ivate sector , must be made to recognise that the conservation of nature presents our nation with its best hope 10 uplift the l:juality of life of people of our country, This is the only realistic way to work towards health for all, nutrition for all and equity for those who are not a part of the market system. Nature can provide dean water, rood- shelter and dignity as no man-made enterprise could ever hope to, The conservation movement must in tact he rccognised for what it is, a strong bond between two very

46

Kerul« - ExplorinJ: Future Frontiers in Tourism Development

powerful streams which have joined Issue· the environmental and human rights. It is in this context that plans should be made [or tourism into fragile areas, which are the life-ulood of millions of people through the length and bn:,ldlh of India.

A~'RICA Vs INDIA:

The very first communication from India, to all potential overseas wildlife-tourists should be that India is distinctly DIFfERENT from Africa, If we fail to do this, preferring instead to 'lure' :_rich tourists to our country by hilling our wilds as 'competitive' destinations to Africa, we will be obliged to offer all the trappings .... hot air balloon~, champagne breakfasts, air-conditioned Land Rovers and [lush-toilete'luipped tents. While it is certainly, Within our capacity (but not necessarily in the interests of wildlife) to cater to such luxuries lor a handful of tourists, it inconceivable that we would be able to creak such infrastructure for the vast majority. This will lead to short cuts, tacky invitations and frustrated tourists. If, on the other hand, we concentrate on alTering meaningful value-for-money and typically Indian experiences, we will reap the harvest of sustained tourism. By l·omparing oursel ves \0 Africa we will inevitably come off second-best on the big.g;une viewing experience, In Africa it spotter with a pair of binoculars can <:a~ily locate a pride of lions, a herd of Wildebeest 01" giraiTe, up to two kilometers away .. _ and then drive tourists to the ~pot in nve minutes. In India you could be ten feet from a tiger and not even see the animal!

Even if it means hiring a good public relations consultant to help us communicate the fact, we should package the Indian wi1dlir(~ tourism experience in a completely different manner, highlighting the dappled gloom. Unearthly soundg and spiritual tuue warp into which visitors can escape, The Indian wildlife experience must be sold differently ... but to do this, the seller must obviouslv possess the requi~ite imagination-·and persons who have real knowledge of the jungle must be allowed to participate in the "teaching venture". Without a shadow of doubt the Kiplingesque ambiance of our leafy jungles and the friendliness of our people is a major selling point. The bald truth. in any event, is that Indian forests are more dense and actual Wildlife viewing consequently more difficult than it is in Africa. Those who promise, therefore, to gual'antee' a tiger Sighting, or even an elephant Sighting, will either end lip bro:aking or bending rules to 'satisfy' theil' customer, or lose such custom altogether. Vastly prefer'lble would be 11 policy, which relies on the proper Or-ientntion of tourists. A voiding the pitfalls of over-promising 'goodies', or offering super-luxuries, which cannot be delivered.

The wildltfe tourism policy of the Govcrnmcut of India should be based on the premise that tourists would prdcr honesty, to bustle. If we rIo not over-promise or mislead them, the)' are most likely to return to their homes carrying pleasant memories of the ambiance of the forest ilnd Indian hospitality. What is asked of tourism promoters is that thcy cash in 011 the total ecological experience of their guests.

CASE STUDIES

7he Corbell Tiger Resme

More than 40,000 visitors enter the Corbett Tiger Reserve each year. Around a 9uarter stay within the park at night, the rest prefer to make day trips from outside. MallY tourists do genuinely seck (and get) to commune with nature, but to many more the outing is merely a dillercnt kind of picnic. from such tourists the park suffers litter, noise and fire risks. The park g~nerally gets a bad name from such tourists who complain thai "They did not even show us a tiger!" If all tourists were obliged first to pass

~ 47

-_co

equatiOnS

through even a ten minute orientation centre, they might enhance their own experience and also appreciate that, the actual purposl' of the park is to protect a vital national heritage (which indeed belongs to the tourist), not cater to the human desire for an 'outing'.

It would be safe to say that few tourists processed through the 'usual' route would be able to experience Corbett, or come to understand its problems. The reason is straightforward. First of all, most tourists do not have the time to truly savour wild places. Then, tourists are not adequately informed of the possibility of an 'alternative experience'. We should advise tour oper;:_tor;; who wish to use Corbett and other such wilderness to "slow down" the pace of their guests. Perhaps they could arrange for tourists to gather in New Delhi or any other major town where meetings could be arranged with Indian conservationists OIL the Natural History Museum or other suitable locations such as the Delhi zoological gardens, or Lam gardens ..... here they could be prepared for <1 visit to Corbett, Ranthambhor, or Bharatpur.

Nowhere C<1n the dark side of tourism be bette!' seen that in the R<lnth ... mbhor Tiger Reserve which is a haven in decline. Some years ago a rash of high and low -:1;\55 hotds cropped up like unfettered mushrooms as thousands flocked to catch weekend glimpol':s of its famous tigers. Tiger-viewing here became <1 free-for-ali money making racket and conditioning the tigers to the presence of so m<111y visitors probably left them vulnerable to tiger poachers for the first time in decades. Over 20 tiger:l arc suspected to have died in the process. We should guard against ~_ similar situation arising in future by distributing the roreign tourism load at the main arrival points, Delhi and Bombay. For local tourist load distribution, it would be necessary to link up with the State Tourism Departments for whom a computerised reservation link would have to be set up with the headquarter towns of major wildlife reserves.

As can be seen from the mounds of plastic bags, pilper wrapp~r; and loud transistor radios ane! tJPC recorders ..... hich blare crudely just outside the entrance gate to Rantharnbhor in Rajasthan, or Borivli in Maharashtra, visitors tend to have little respect for community p:·operty ... if locals themselves do not display respect for their assets. This trait, more than any other, has led to the degradation of India's once- pristine bcachfronts, ..... ildcrncsses and cultural treasures. At the heart of such tragedies so graphically illustrated by the examples of ravaged tourist destinations such as Br;)zil's Ccpacabana beach, Thailand's Pattaya and India's Goa, lies a lack of respect, fo!' people and nature.

The G'iT Liun Sancluacy

According to experts, the near-extinction of the Asi<1tic lion was probably caused by the introduction uf llr earrns. In fact, as per available records, by the year 1848 they had already been wiped out from the whole of India except for their last r~fuge -- Gir. It is said that lher..: were only around 21) lion:' left alive in 1913. The Nawab of Jllnagad tuok some timely action and by 1920, their numbers had risen to 100. By 1955 the population had risen to around 290 lions. By 0111 estimates extinction had been watded air

It was only in 1965, that a 126S-sq.km area in Gir ..... as declared a wildlife gan::tuary, ill the heart of the Kathiawar peninsula. This area was handed over to the forest department of Gujarat. But, outside this protected area, the land continued to be abused and today a situation has arisen where the pressure on the last home of the Asiatic lion, has increased so considerably that fears for its extinction have once again arisen. Today, the .sanctuary area is 115.42 sq .krns with an additional 258.71-sq. kms declared as a

48

Keralu - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

national park, which also serves as the core. Exact f1gure~ are difGcult to quote, but today there are less than 250 lions len alive ill Gir. Local grazers sometimes poison these animals; their claws are much sought after by poachers who sell them for fancy priccs. Because of bad land mallJ.gemenl outside Gil", there is no fodder available, 50 outsiders send their cows and buffaloes into the forest. This leaves the jungle so disturbed that natural prey like sambar and chital are diliicult for the lions to hunt. The problems are really <Juit~ seven: and 110 one seems able to do very much to case ~hem.

Such issues may not be the prime concern of the 'average' tourist, but the more they know about the problems of wild places, the more they will appreciate the imperatives of protected area managers. Resides, Involvement with a problem invariably leads 10 concern and understanding, bOlh or which are crucial if tourists are expected to appreciate the imperatives of those whose job it is lO protect areas like Gir ,

The prime reason for Gir's existence is to safe the Asiatic lion. Every other priority, tourism, [oddcr , fuel wood etc., must be subservient to the survival of the species. By and large, though it does have major trouble now and then, Gir is a well managed forest and tourists generally come away sauslicd. Problems generally crop up when the old or very young lions leave the [ore's! in search of new territories. When they come into contact with villagers who throw stones, or otherwise react aggressively, the cats strike with tragiC consequences. This further erodes conservation support. Another time when trouble rears its head is when stubborn tourists refuse to obey park rules and insist on walking in the forest. If such people were made to visit the orientation center before entering the forest, and persuJ.dcd to cooperate with the authorities it would make the task of ensuring their comfort and ~afety much easier.

Gif badly needs public support. Its forested corridor link with <ldjoining forests has been damJged. Politicians seek to gain cheap popularity by encouraging locals to invade the forest to claim timber and grass in exchange for votes. It would be a very good idea for conservation oriented tour operators to routinely ask their clients to write letters to the Chief Minister of Gujarat , praising his government Cor the steps it is taking to save the lion. It would also help a great deal if they brought violations by irresponsible tourists to the notice of the authorities. Though small, such steps would contribute to the efforts to save the forest and its charismatic lions.

49

COASTAL REGULATION ZONE NOTFICATION, 1991

Annexure - I

COASTAL AREA CLASSIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

Classification of Coastal Regulation Zone:

6 (1) For regulating development activities, the coastal stretches within 500 metres of High Tide Line on the landward side are classified into four categories, namely:

Category I (CRZ-I)

(i) Areas that are ecologically sensitive and important, such as national parks/ marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats, mangroves, corals/coral reefs, areas close to breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life, areas of outstanding natura] beauty/historically/heritage areas, areas rich in genetic diversity, areas likely to be inundated due [Q rise in sea level conse(juent upon global warming and such other areas as maybe declared by the Central Government or the concerned authorities at the State/ Union Territory level from time to time.

(ii) Area between the Low Tide Line and the High Tide Line.

Category-I! (CRZ-II)

The areas that have already been developed upto or close to the shoreline. For this purpose, "developed area" is referred to as that area" within the municipal limits or in other legally designated urban areas which is already substantially built up and which has been provided with drainage and approach roads and other infrastructurnl facilities, such as water supply and sewer a ge mains.

Category-III (CRZ-III):

Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which do not belong: to either Category-lor 1I. These will include coastal zone in the rural areas (developed and undeveloped) and also areas within Municipal limits or in other legally designated urban .. r eas which are not substantially built up.

Category-IV (CRZ-IV)

Coastal stretches in the Andaman & Nicobar , Lakshadweep and small islands, except tho~e deSignated as CRZ-I, CRZ-II or CRZ.IlL

50

Keruhr - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

Norms for Regulation of Activities.

CRZ-J

CRZ-ll[ (I)

6 (2) The development or construction activities in different categories of CRZ area shall be regulated by the concerned authorities at the State! Union Territory level, in accordance witb the following norms:

No new construction shall be permitted within 500 metres of the High Tide Line. No construction activity, except as listed under 2(xii), will be permitted between the Low Tide Line and the High Tide Line;

.[provided that construction of dispensaries, schools, pub lie rain shelter-s, community toilets, bridges, roads, jetties, water supply, drainage, sewerage which are required for traditional inhabitants of the Sunderbans Bio-sphere reserve area, West Bengal, may be permitted, on a case to case basis, by an authority deSignated by the State Government.

(i)

·[Buildings shall be peruutted only on the landward side of the existing road (or roads proposed in the approved Coastal Zone Management plan of the area) or on the landward side of existing authorised structures. Buildings permitted on the landward side of the ex istt ng and proposed roads! exi$ting au thorised su-ucturcs shall be sub jed to t he cxisti ng local Town and Country Planning Regulations induding the existing norms of Floor Space Index/ Floor Area Ratio:

(ii)

provided that no permission for construction of bUildings shall be givcn on landward side of any new roads (except roads proposed in the ilpproved Coastal Zonc Management Plan) which arc constructed on the seaward side of an existing road].

Reconstruction of the authorised buildings to be permitted subject to the existing FSilFAR norms and without ch<lngc in the existing usc.

(iii)

The design and construction of bUildings shall he consistent with the surrounding landscape and local architectural style.

The area upto 200 metres from the HTL is to be earmarked as 'No Development Zone'. **[NO construction shall be permitted within this zone exccpt for rcpair~ of existing au thurised stru clllrcs not exceeding e xisun g FSI, ex isting plin til area and ex isti ng de nsit y. and for permissible activities under the notification including facilities essential 1'01' such activities. An authority designated by the State Govcrumcnr/Llnton Territory Administration may permit construction of facilities for water supply, drainilgc and sewerage for requirements of local inhabitants]. However, the following uses mil} be permissible in tlus zone-agricul ture, horticulture, gardens, pasturcs, parks, play fields, Iorcsrry and salt manufacture from sea water.

(ii)Devdoplllcnt or vacant plots between 200 and 500 rnetrcs of High Tide Lint: ill dc~ignatcd areas of CRZ-III with prior approval of Ministry of Environmen ( and Forests (M EF) permitted for construction of hotels/Leach resorts for tcmporary occupation or tourists/visitors subject to the conditions as stipulated in the guidelinl's at Annexur-e-Il

51

(iii)*,Construction/ reconstruction of dwelling units between 200 and 500 metres of the HTL permitted so long as it is within the ambit of traditional rights and customary uses such as eXisting fishing villages and g~olhans. Building permission for such construction Ire construction will be subject to the conditions that the total number of dwelling unit shall not he more than twice the number of existing units; total covered area on all floors shall not exceed 33 percent of the plot size; the overall height of construction shall not exceed 9 metres and construction shall not be more than 2 floors (ground floor plus one floor).

Construction is allowed for permissible activities under the notification including facilities essen tial for such acti ... i ties. An au thorrty designated by State Government/ 1I nion Territory Administration may permit construction of public rain shelters, community toilets, water supply, drainage, sewerage, roads and bridges. The said authority may also permit construction or schools and dispensaries, for local inhabitants of the area, for, those Panchayats the major part of which falls within CRZ if no other area is available for construction of such facilities].

(iv) Reconstruction! altcruuons of an existing authortsed bUilding permitted subject to (i) to (iii) abo ... e.

CRZ-IY

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

(i) No New construction of bUildings shall be permitted within 200 metres of the

(ii) The buildings between 200 and 500 metres from the High Tide Line shall not have more

than 2 1100rs (ground Hoor and first floor), the total covered area on all Iloors shall not be more than 50 per cent of the plot size and the total height of construction shall not exceed 9 metres;

(iii) The design and construction of bUildings shall be consistent with the surrounding

lanclsca pe a nd local archi tectur al style,

(iv) ·.[(01) Corals from the beaches and coastal waters shall not be used Ior construction and other purposes,

(b) Sand may be used lrorn the: beaches and coastal water-s, only for construction l)urpose: upto the 3 I st day of March 1990 and thereafter it shall not be used for construcuon and other purposes.]

(v)

Dredging and underwater blasting in and around coral formations shall not be permitted; and

However, in some of the islands, coastal stretches lllay also be classified into c,ltegories CRZ-I or II or III with the 'prior approval of Minbtry of Environment and Forests and in such deSignated stretches, the appropriate regulations given for respedivc Categories shall apply.

( ... i)

52

Keral« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

Lakshadweep and small Islands:

(i) For permitting construction of buildings the distance from the High Tide Line shall be decided depending on the size of the islands. This shall be laid down for each island, in consultation with the experts and with approval of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, ke"ping in view the land use r equirernents for specific purposes vis-a-vis local conditions including hydrological aspects erosion and ecological sensi \ i vi t y;

(ii) The buildings within sao metres from the HTL shall not have more than 2 floors (ground floor and 1 st floor), the total covered area on all floors shall not be more than so per cent of t he plot size end the total height of construction shal J not exceed 9 metres;

(iii) The design and construction of buildings shall be consistent with the surrounding landscape and local architectural style;

(iv) Corals and sand from the beaches and coastal waters shall not be used [or construction and other purposes,

(v) Dredging and underwater blasting in and around coral formations shall not be permitted; and

(vi) However, in some of the islands, coastal stretches may also be classified into categories CRZ-I or II or lll, with the prior approval of Ministry of Environment & Forests and in such designated stretches, the appropriate regulations given for respective Categories shall apply.

Annexure - II

Guidelines for Development of Beach Resorts/Hotels in the DeSignated areas of CRZ JIl for Temporary Occupa tion of Tourists I Visitors, with prior a pproval of the Ministry of En vironmcnt & Forests.

7(i) Construction of beach resorts/hotels with prior approval of MEF in the deSignated areas of CRZ-IH for tem pon.ry occupation of tourists Ivisi tors shall be 5U bject to the follOWing conditions:

(i) The project proponents shall not undertake any construction (including temporary constructions and fenCing: or such other barriers) within 200 metres (in the landward side) from the High Tide Line and within the area between the Low Tide and High Tide Line;

•• **((ia) live fencing and barbed wire fencing with vegetative cover may be allowed around private properties subject to we condition that such fencing shall in no way hamper public access to the beach],

(ib) no llattening of sand dunes shall be carried out;

(ic) no permanent su-uctures for sports [aciliucs shall be permitted e;>lcept construction of goal posts, net posts and lamp posts.

(id) construction of basements may be allowed subject to the condition that no objection certificate is obtained from the State Ground Water Authority to the effect that such construction will not adversely aliect free Oow of ground water in that area, The State Ground Water Authority shall take into consideration we guidelines issued by the Central Government before granting such no objection ecru Cicate.

Esplanation:

53

..

'Though no construction is allowed in the no development zone for the purposes of calculation of FSI, the area of entire plot including ***"'[50% of] the portion which falls within the no development zone shan be taken into account.

(ii) The total plot size shall not be less than 0.4 hectares a nd the total covered area on all floors shall not exceed 33 percen t of the plot size i, e. the FSI shall no t exceed O.:H. The open area shall be suitably landscaped with appropriate vegetal cover;

(iii) The construction shall be consistent with the surrounding landscape and local arcttitectural ~tyle;

(iv) The overall height of construction upto highest ridge of the roof shall not exceed 9 metres and the construction shall not be more than 2 floors (ground floor plus one upper floor);

(v) Ground water shall not be tapped within 200 m of the HTL; within the 200 metres - 500 metres zone, it can be tapped only with the concurrence of the Central/State Ground Water Board;

(Vi) Extraction of sand, l~veling or digging of sandy stretches except for structural foundation of bUilding swimming pool shall not be permitted within 500 metres of the High Tide Line;

(vii) The <juality of treated elTIuents, solid wastes, emissions and noise levels, etc. from the project are a must conform to the standards laid down by the competcnt authorities including the Central/State Pollution Control Board and under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;

(viii) Necessary arrangements for the treatment of the ellluents and solid wastes must be made. It must be ensured that the untreated ellluents and solid wastes are not discharged into the water or on the beach; and no ell1uent/solid waste shall be discharged +n the beach;

(ix) To allow public access to the beach, a t least a gap of 20 metres width shall be provided between any two hotebl beach resorts; and in no case shall gaps be II.':s3 than 500 metres aJl~rt; and

(x) If the proje<.·t involves diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes, clearance ns required under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 shall be obtained, The requirements of other Centr al and State laws as applicable to the project shall be met with.

(xi) Approval of the State/ Union Territory Tourism Department shall be obtained

7(2)

In ecologically sensitive areas (such as marine parks, mangroves, coral reefs, breeding and spawning grounds of !"ish, wildlife habitats and such other areas as may notified hy the Central/Stale Government/Union Territories) construction of lH::ach resorts /Iiotels shall nol be permitted.

* Inserted by notification dated 9.7. 1997

** Subsu tuted by notif Cit tion dated 9.7. 1997

*** Inserted by notification dated 31.1.1997 **** Introduced via amendment dated 16.8.1994.

54

Kerul« - Exploring Puture Frontiers ill Tourism Development

*** •• Entire area of no-development zone allowed as per amending notification dated 16.8.1994. Modified by the Supreme COUl't order da ted 18.4-. 1996 (0 50% of no-developmcn t zone area.

55

Tourism and sustainable development Report of the secretary-general of United Nations

(i" session, Commission for Sustainable Development, April 1999)

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The tourism industry, one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the global economy, has important economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts, Its continuing growth has importalll implications for the achievement of sustainable development, particularly in small i-sland developing States and tourist destinations with fragile ecological environments. The tourism industry encompasses ;) large number of different travel-related activities, including, jnter alia, hospitality enterprises, souvenir and craft businesses, travel agencies, transport enterprises, tour operators and tourist gUides. The demand for new forms of tourism is growing in many countries and presents new challenges for the tourism industry, national Governments and the international community.

2. The United Nations and its agencies have addressed the importance of tourism and sustainable development on various occasions. In 1997, the General Assembly at its special session to review the implementation of Agenda 21 (23~--281une 1997) noted the importance of tourism and requested th~ development of an action plan for tourism. More recently, the Economic and Social Council in its resolu tion 1998/40 of 30 July 1998, recommended that the General Assembly declare 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourisrn. It requested a report containing the programmes and activities undertaken by Governments and interested organizations during the year, an assessment of the results achieved in encouraging Ecotourism in developing countries and recommendations to promote Ecotour isrn within the framework of sustainable development.

3. The present report discusses the interrelated economic, social and environmental issues associated with tourism to arrive at policy options that may be dealt with in an integrated policy framework for the development of sustainable tourism.

tt, _ TOURlSM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

4. In recent decades, tourism in the global economy has grown rapidly, consistently outstripping annual growth rates for world gross national product (GNP), world merchandise exports and world trade in services. As a result, the share of international tourism in global economic activity has risen steadily: in 1997, global tourism activities accounted for about 1.5 per cent of world GNP, 8 per cent of world merchandise exports by value and 35 per cent of the value of world exports of services. One of the major economic impacts of this rapid expansion in international tourism has been Significant em ployment creation; the hotel accommodation sector alone provided around 1 J . .3 milh on job, worldwide in 1995. International tourism is expected to continue to grow just as fast in coming decades,

56

Kerata - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

and forecasts indicate that the number of people travelling in ternationall y will increase from 612 million in 1997 to about 1.6 billion by 2020, and that earnings from international tourism will rise from $443 bi Ilion in 1997 to more than $ 2 trillion by 20201•

s. The global tourism sector is currently dominated by industrialized economies from which most of the world's tourism flows originate. However, while tourism demand of persons in many of these economics is leveling off, developing economies - particularly the more dynamic emerging economies - have been experiencing an increase in demand for travel, leading to rapid growth in intraregional tra vel. The econom ies of East Asia and the Pacific alone accounted for about 15 per cent of globa I tourist arr i vals an d nearly 19 per cent of tourist revenues in 1997, up from 11.2 and 14.6 per cen t respecti vely in 1990.' Similarly, in Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have benefited from tourism development under a market economy.

6. A Significant prorortion of international tourism is inlraregional in nature, accounting for roughly 82 per cent of the total in 1997. The geographical proximity of tourist destinations to the most important originating markets is an important factor determining successful exports of tourism services, as the cost of air transport represents a smaller share of overall tourism-related expenditure. However, the cost of air travel in general has declined, and this has facilitated the development of tourist packages to longhaul markets in some developing countries. Some of the new destinations, in particular in Asia and the Pacific and in Africa, are attracting higher income tourists and selling higher value-added services and products",

7. Tourism is the only major sector in international trade in services in which developing countries have consistently had surpluses compared with the rest of the world. Between 1980 and 1996 their positive balance in the travel account rose from $46 billion to S6S.9 billion, driven by the growth of inbound tourism to countries in Asia and the Pacilic and in Africa. The distribution of tourism flows shows a high degree of concentration of arrivals and receipts among and within developing regiOns. In the Asia and Pacific region, for example, Singapore and Hong. Kon~, Province of China together received more tourists and earned more from tourism in 1996 than Thailand, Indonesia and South Asia combined. Similarly, Africa, which received nearly three times as many tourist arrivals as Singapore in 1997, managed to earn only about 8 per cent more from tourism than did Singapore!. However, despite the impressive overall expansion of their tourism receipts, developing countries accounted for less than 30 per cen t of world tourism receipts in 1996'.

8. Although tourism activity consists of both domestic and international tourism, with domestic tourism accounting for approximately 80 per cent of all tourism activity, tourism development strategy typically places the primary emphasis upon international tourists, that is, leisure and business travelers crossing international frontiers. This emphasis on international tourism development, however, is understandable, since domestic tourism leads largely to a redistribution of national income while international tourism provides foreign exchange earnings to the destination country.

9. The tourism sector can be a major driving force for economic development in many developing countries because of its large potential multiplier and spillover effects on the rest of the economy. The sector tends to generate a large number of jobs, par ucuiar Iy of the unskilled or semis killed variety. In some developing countries, particularly those lacking adequate resources, tourism may be the only development alternative available in the short to medium term e , In this regard, tourism is often identified as a promising growth sector in small island developing States because it ollers an important opportunity for economic diversification, particularly for very small island~.

10. In a number of developing countries where tourism development has been given priority in development planning, the contribution of tourism to GNP, employment and export receipts has, in

§?= 57

::;:;c'

• equations

recent years, outstripped traditional economic activities such as cash crop agriculture or mineral extraction. As a result, many developing countries and small Island developing States have become more and more dependent on tourism as a major engine for economic development; tourism and tourismrelated activities, for instance, now dominate the economies of Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Seychelles. In contrast, island tourism development, in many cases, has had a lesser impact on the economies inmost of the African and Pacific small island developing States.

11. The contribution of tourism to income and employment generation can vary Significantly between countries. The gross contribution of tourism to national income is diminished by primary leakages of foreign exchange earnings arising from imports of materials and equipment for construction, imports of consumer goods (including food and drink), repatriation of profits earned lly foreign investors, overseas promotional expenditures an amortization of external debt incurred in the development of hotels and resorts. In general, income and employment multipliers' for tourism tend to be higher in economies where there are well- established local supply networks that ensure that the demands of the tourism sector are more easily met by local suppliers. Where b;ckwilrd linkages between tourism and other sectors of the economy are weak or absent income and employment multipliers from tourism are lower because the potential stimulus to indirect spending is dissipated by increased imports rather than domestic production, as happens with many small island developing states. Given tourism's potential linkages with other economic sectors, its integration into national development plans that highlight the development of intersectoral linkages can encourage the growth of tourism-related activities in the: major economic sectors, including agriculture, fishing industry, services and transportation.

12. However, over reliance on tourism, especially mass tourism, carries Significant risks to tourismdepended economies. Economic recession and the impacts of narural disasters such as tropical storms and cyclones can have dev<tst<lting effects on the tourism sector. ln gencr<ll, the demand for mass tourism is relatively income- elastic and can produce sharp ncg~tive responses to economic downturns in source: markets, The recent financial turmoil in ASia, for example, triggerd a sharp fall in tourism flows to affected countries during 1997 and 1998. Similarly, excessive reliance on a Single major source of tourists, as in Cyprus and Malta on. The United Kingdom market links the performance of the tourism sector to the economic fortunes ol the sou rce coun try.

1'1. Economic PuliO challenge.rjiJ/" the lUI/mill inriustry

13. The private tourism sector, which consists of foreign and domestic enterprises, has a crucial role in tourism development through its investment, production, employment and marketing decisions. The foreign tourism industry consists mainlv of large transnational airline, hotel and tour companies, and their corporate objectives can have a profound impact on the economic development of destination areas. Therefore, tourism enterprises should ensure that their investment, employment, operational and other business decisions take full account of the wider implications of such actions for the long.term de velopmen t and economic sustainabilitv of the destinations in which they opt: rate.

14. Attention to human resources development and training of local workers, for instance, enhances not only the guality of tourism services but also the overall skills and capabilities of the local workforce. In the same way, the utilization of a network of domestic suppliers by foreign tourism businesses can enhance the development and productivity of local suppliers. The development of such linkages can increase the retention of foreign cxcllilnge and thereby raise the contribution of tourism to income growth.

S8

Kerula-« Exploring Future Frontiers ii, Tourism Development

the area, as well as to the local community as a whole. D~veloping countries should consider the various options available for financing tourism infrastructure projects, such as governm~nt outlays, llmmcing hy multilateral and regional financial institutions, involvement of the private sector through build-operatetransfer schemes and foreign direct investment. The privati ... ation ('If infrastructure development has been undertaken successfully in a number of develoninz countries, including Malavsia and Thailand.

. ~ ~.

20. Given the importance of small and medium enterprises in the tourism irldustry or bot], developed and developing countries, it is crucial that policy reforms address this source of entrcpreneurtal potential. For example, policies should be implemented to promote the access of such '!nt.erp~jses to finance and to strengthen the nrovision of industrial support services, Moreover. investment. policies should encourage linkages among small and medium enterpr-ises. Also, Governments should provide tax incentives and implement deregulation to promote the development and competitiveness of such enterprises in the tourism industry.

21. It is irnpor tant that the economic benefits of tourism be distributed widely among the host population. One way to do this is to encourage tourism businesses to employ local people and to limit the employment of expatriate labour. In this regard, tourism businesses should ~e encouraged to train local personnel.

22. Often, em ploymen t in the tourism se ctor is allected by the seasonal p~ttern of tourism activity that characterizes many destinations that are heavily dependent on tourism: typically there is undcrutilization of resources (and lower employment opportunttles) during the low season and overutilizanon of resources during the high season. The challenge for national Governments is to identify ways in which tourism activity can be spread more evenly throughout the year. In this regard there is also scope for national Governments to assist tourism org"nizations of all kinds in assessing and responding to the changing nature of the international demand for tourism, for example by developing alternative forms of tourism,

23. Governments should pay special attention to tourism development and nlall<lgement in coastal areas, which have often relied on tourism as a major source of income and employment. Many such areas are now facing a decline in their established markets, In many instances, a factor contributing to their declining [ortunes is poorly planned and poorly managed tourism development in the past, which have impaired the attractiveness of the destination. Coastal tour ism is p~rticularl)' vulnerable in this respect, as it typically involves some of the world's most fragile ecological areas. Since tourism plays a Significant role in most small island developing State economies, their national Governments face special chOlllt'.nges to ensure that there is a balance between the heightened demands placed on local resources by tourism and the demands placed upon them by other econcrruc activities and by host communities. To the extent possible, small island developing States and other de'retoping countries should strive to diversify :heir national economy in order to reduce dependency on tourism as a source (If incorne , employment ~ncl foreign exchange earnings.

24. In view of the projected rapid growth in international tourism, there i.~ ~. need fN concert eel international action. If the economic ben~fits of tourism an: to he experienced more Wide!) th~(lur.h,)l,t the world, it is important to explore wa.ys to increase r",rtjcip~tiOtl in inrernational travel, ~spt'dally bj those living in developing countries. This should tnvolve ellorts 10 reduce or even remove tJrHT·liko: barriers to international travel. For example, differential exit taxes 011 residents and visitors serve to

60

Kerata - Exploring Future Frontiers in Tourism Devetopmeut

15, The ,Jomestic tourism sector is largely made lip of small and medium-sized tourism firms, which, unlike large firrus, ar ... often family-.-un businesses, The-sf: small and medium enterprises face diverse problems and ch,,-lleng~~ in adapting themselves tn new International trends and need to develop strategies based on various market niches and Sp~cinC ~egments that enable them to develop new products. \I/~en such firrr.s create their own products tl];, y can ope:-ate on u more cost-effective basis and yet offer more personalized service because of their greater knowledge of their clients' needs, likes aml 1nvc!\ing pref crcnces. Howe ver , ill order to do this, sr:l;'!! and medium eraerprises require proper pl~!:ning acd market research to redefine and ;\djl~st fn<1rh:ting ~lrati:!gi~s for sdling their products. Moreover , those businesses, par ticularlv travel ag'!ndcs, need to keep abreast of advances in informatics in order to compete s'J'2ce,,~f\JlIy with laJ:g,~ ~omestj(· and foreign tourism e:'ltelpris..:s.

B. Economic ,vaLicv challengesJilr Ilatiollal GOllemmenls

1 (i In ,:.rcif;'" to ad vance tour ism develcpmen 1, national G ovcrnmcn ts need to implement polici es tha t will ~n(()llrage tbe dO!lv~stic tourism industry and attract fore;gn direct investment and relevant tf:chno~(Jgie~. Those policies should ensure that tourism is properly planned and managed so as to minimize its adverse economic, social, cultural and' environmental impacts, Therefore, appropriate attention and pri(Jrity should be attached to tourism in development planning in order to integrate and coordinate tourism palides with the policies of other govcrnrr,cnt agencies so that tourism develops in harmony wit~! overall economic, social and environmental goais. Governments should also consult widdy with ~It'st communities and concerned major groups to ensure that as broad a range of views as possible is incorporated into the planning p:oces~ of tourism development. It is also important, in this regard, that Governments undertake capacity-building to promote partnerships and enhance dialogue wi th JIl major gro'J ps in 50cie!y.

17, In order to promote tourism and successf ull y cOlllpete wi th other countries, Gover nmen ts should ensure that their immigration regulations facilitate the inflow of tourists and people involved in supplying tourism services. In addition, market liberalization and the promotion of consumer (toorist) interests, such as safety arxl facilitation of trave: and the easing of foreign currency regulations, should be key areas of attention for Governments, Indeed, hberalizanon will lead to greater travel exchange bet ween countries.

18. For most developing countries and economies in transition, foreign direct investment is important for tourism development as it provides an itnportant source of capital, new tedmologies, organiZiltion and mamgement methods and access to markets. Such investment can be am-acted and maintained by a stable pol ky en vironrnen t tha t promotes confiden ce among foreign investors in the economy. To promote t.he tourism industries, Governments should review the fiscal treatment of the tourism sector and undertake necessary fi~cal refOI'1ll to foster its growth .. nd development. :t is also important that Governments develop and apply effective competition policy in the tourism and related sectors by, inter alia, prohibiting anti-competitive clauses such as exclusive dealing, imporl requirements in franchising contracts and the abuse of dominance in air travel.

19. The lack of an adequate tourism infrastructure is a serious obstacle to tourism development in all covntries, In parucular , the long planni!1g find construction time involved in infrastructure development, as well as the difficulties of funding '{Cry costly infrtslrl.lcture projects can create critical bottlenecks for international travel and tourism growth When ,mdertaking the development of major infrastructures, such as road networks or water supply systems, national Governments have to ensure that they cater not only to the needs of the tourism sector', but also to the needs of other industries in

59

discourage foreign travel by residents, while travel allowance restrictions not only discourage foreign travel but also limit residents' spending potential while abroad,

25, Further liberalization commitments on trade in tourism should be negotiated under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and 'an annex on tourism services may be required, comprising, inter alia, regulatory issues such as definitions, competitive safeguards, access to information, fair and tran~parent use of global.distributh;))\· systems, linkages bel ween tourism and air traruport and security conditions for service contracts. Furthermore, the relevant provisions of GATS should be fully implemented, or, if necessary, new provisions should be developed, to prevent unfair competition arising from discriminatory practices in the Issuance of visas to tourists that favour certain tour operators and travel agents, Articles IV and XIX of GA TS should be ellective lv applied to the tourism sector through the adoption of measures that foster greater participation by developing countries in international trade in tourism services. The problems of air access of developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, need to be addressed with a view to securing a fair treatment of those countries, Technical assistance should be provided to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, both at the governmental and business levels, in preparing for negotiations in such forums relating to trade and development in tourism and related services",

26. International organizations and donor countries should also increase their efforts in training and capacity-building in the field of tourism in developing countries, including the effective use of computer reservation systems, gloual dtstribution systems and the Internet to maximize their earnings from tourism and to meet international standards, Studies should be carried out on specific issues of interest to developing countries, such as leakages of for,eign exchange e'arnings from the tourism sector, the impact of all-inclusive lours on the flnancial sustainability of the tourism sector in developing countries and the development of a model strategy for integrating local communities into the formulation, implementation and management of tourism projects.

27, In the area of infrastructure development, the international community already plays an important role by providing funding for tourism-related projects. These funding agencies include, for example, the various World Bank afriliates and United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme. Other international organizations, including the World Trade Organization, are often involved as executing agencies for the provision of technical assistance, Multilateral and regional financing institutions should give high priority to appropriate strategies for the environmentally and financially sustainable development of tourism and related sectors, in particular for financing infrastructure projects, the provision of modem telecommunications services under pro-competitive regulatory regimes and human resource development activities.

28. There are problems with the measurement of tourism activity that limit regional and world aggregations and make international comparability dHlkult: there is no universally accepted definition, although there are internationally recognized definitions of the various categories of tourists. In this regard, national tourism agencies and the statistical offices of all countries should adopt the definitions on tourism statistics as approved by the United Nations Sta tistical Com mission in 1993. In addi tion there is no agreed way of nleasuring the output from and impacts of tourism and its relationships with other economic sectors, Some progress will be made in this respect when the draft of a tourism satellite account is tabled at the World Conference on the Measurement of the Economic Impact of Tourism, to be convened in 1999. Countries should support this initiative, as the acceptance and implementation of a uniform system of tourism accounting measures would provide a clear measurement of the role of the tourism sector in economic development and trade. Such a system could then be used in international negotiations on services, fat which adequate statistics and policy analysis are a necessary prerequisite,

61

III. TOURISM AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

29. international tourism can introduce significant social and cultural change in host destinations. While it is acknowledged that economic development is, in itself, an important change Jgent in society, the role of tourism has received special attention in this regard largely because or the high visibility of tourists and their direct economic, social and cultural interactions with host communities. Tourism can promote social development through its impact on employment creation, income redistribution and poverty alleviation. Also, the improvements in physical and social infrastructure that usuall y accompan y tourism development often spill over into the rest of the economy, leading to more widespread social improvements, for example; in health and social welfare.

30, At the same time, tourism development can promote negative social and cultural change as a result of economic development or a social demonstration effect when local residents imitate what foreign visitors do, wear and eat. For example, employment that requires shift work can disrupt family liJe and religious observance. Other negative social costs, such as drug abuse, child labour and prostitution, not only have an impact on the local population, but may also damage the image of the destination itself. However, it is important to note that many negative social changes often attributed to tourism could just as easily have been the resul t of modern ization , in par ticular the de velopmen t and dilTusio n of media and mass communications.

3 L In many instances, much of the impact of tourism activity is localized: host communities suller the elTects of overcrowding pressure on resources and challenges to established culture, including negative changes in the patterns of religiOUS observance, dress, behavioral norms and traditions Ii-om interaction with non-indigenous cultures. The intensity of these social impacts depends on factors such as the type and rate of tourism growth, the ratio of visitors to the resident community, seasonal trends and the sociocultural resilience of the host community, but may be mngnified in locations where tourist arr-ival numbers have increased r<'pidly or where the ratio or tourist arrrvals to local population is high. In general, such social costs and pressures mOly be less onerous when residents actually receive economic and financial benefits from local tourism activity. In the. absence of such recompeme, host communities may resent and possibly turn hostile towards tourists.

32. A high level of tourism activity can unwittingly encourage over-commercialization, which can cheapen or even destroy local customs and traditions. For instance, when local arts and crafts and cultural practices are adapted to suit foreign tastes, the result can be poor quality handicrafts, unethical trading practices and fake "antiques", as well as the deterioration of cultural dances, music and festiv;lls. Cultural deterioration of a more serious nature may occur when historic sites and buildings are unprotected and the traditionally built environment is replaced or virtually disappears.

33. To mitigate these social and cultural costs, an important consideration in sustainable tourism development is the tourist carrying capacitj of host destinations in both environmental and social terms. The concept of carrying capacity should adequately reflect the ability of a local community to absorb tourists wi thout submerging or overwhelming the loca] culture. This is usually a dtlficult balance to achieve, but without careful consideration of the sociocultural C'arrying capaCity of a community or area, irretrievable cultural deterioration and loss of cultural patrImony may result; Ironically, the very success that national tourism agencies achieve in increasing vl'sitor numbers can actually induce long-term problems that diminish the sustainabiiity of to~rist destinations,

34. However, tourism development can help host communities to reclaim their cultural patrimony by prOViding them with the necessary Ilnanciai incentives to invest in, promote and preserve their local

62

Kemla - Expioring FIIIl/Fe Frontiers ill Tourism Development

customs and cultures. With proper management and promotion, local cultures can be given an impetus by the presence of tourists. In many host countries, tourism development has contributed to the revival of native crafts and festivals, which can promote traditional handicraft industries and provide enhanced employment opportunities, particularly for women.

A. Social polifiY challenges fOr the tourism indusoy

35. The major challenge facing the tourism industry is to contribute to social development objectives through greater compliance with core labour standards, attention to worker welfare and human resource development and more corporate social initiatives. Although Governments can and do legislate on matters such as health and, safety at work, health insurance and pensions, minimum wages and employment of women and young people, the tourism illdustry needs to address these issues and take concrete steps, be it in the form of better compliance or voluntary initiatives, to ensure that workers and host communities receive social as well as economic benefits from tourism development. In this regard, the tourism industry needs to ensure that special attention is given to those issues that are specific to or are more pronounced in the tourism sector.

36. Over the past two decades, tourism has become a major source of employment and income in many developing countries. The evidence indicates that in both developed and developing countries, most workers in the tourism indus tr y are in either unskilled or low-skilled jobs, which olTer low wages, seasonal employment and irregular working hours. The tourism industry needs to address how working conditions can be improved to provide greater [ob security and improved human resource devel9pnlent. Clearly, discussion on conditions of work should involve a more direct dialogue between employers and employee representauves, and there should be a greater role for employees in the formulation and implementation of company policies, The private sector and workers' organizations should support the International Labour Organization process of tripartite cooperation as a means of promoting the participation of employers' and workers organizations.

37_ Another Significant feature of employment in the tourism sector is the high proportion of women and young people in the workforce, 10 many .situutions, women and children can lle seriously disadvantaged, discriminated agilillst or exploited in the workplace. In particular, sex tourism, prostitution (with the related problem of HIV I AIDS) and child labour (including the commercial sexual exploitation of children) 'are issues of serious concern

38. Tourism enterprises should take steps to put an immediate stop to intolerable forms of child labour. One way to do this is to develop codes of conduct among enterprises in order ro prevent child labour and promote, compliance with national legislation on child labour. Since poverty is major factor determining child labour and exploitation, tourism enterprises should support activities that provide employable skills to children at an employable age and to their families, and implement innovative programmes to ensure adequate and full employment of breadwinners. Within their organizations they can also implement responsible tourism marketing and advertisement and create awareness among tourism personnel on the right.s of women and children.

39. To its credit, the tourism industry has taken important (lrst steps to confront these serious problems. With reg;u-d to child labour and sex tourism, for example, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions launched a gloual campaig.n in 1994 to eliminate child labour , while the International Organiution of Employers in 1996 resolved to end slave-like, bonded and dangerous forms of child labour and to develop suitable action plans at the international, national, industry and enterprise levels. In addition, tourist agencies, hotels and air carriers are ~eginning to take direct action against sex

63

tourism: the Llniversal Federation of Travel Agents' Associations, for example, has committed itself to combating child sex tourism with the adoption of its Child and Travel Agent Charter in 1994. The World Tourism Organi;>:ation established the Tourism and Child Prostitution Watch in 1996 to encourage self*regulation in the tourism industry by increasing awareness of the problems of sexual exploitation in tourism and by collecting information on sex tourism and measures that have been successful in stopping it.

40. The tourism industry also h<ls to address the concerns of communities in which tbey carry out their businesses. Given the potential social and cultural impact of tourism on local populations, particularly in the more remote and isolated locations favoured by the newer forms of tourism such as nature or ecotour ism, the private sector needs to invite and nurture host community participation in the tourism development process. Witbout host community acceptance of the type and scale of tourism, antJgonism towards tourists and tour ism can threaten overall development and sustainability objectives.

41. Tourism enterprises can also playa useful role in the promotion of education to both tourists and the host community to improve cultural awareness in order to minimize the social impact of tourism. Air[ines, for example, have the opportunity, through in-night videos and publications, to inform passengers about the cultural sensitivities of host communities. Moreover, the tourism industry can pilly an important role in raising awareness among tourists about the serious issues of child labour, particularly their commercial sexual exploitation. The tourism industry already possesses codes of conduct that provide guidelines for tourism enterprises and host communities, which should be more widely adopted and applied,

B. Social poliO challenges, for nrzlionnl GOliemmenlJ'

42. Governments have an important role in maximizing the benefits of tourism lind limiting its m:gative impacts on SOciety. As such, they have to direct their policies towards development of human resources, alleviation of poverty, improvement of social security, correction of gender and income disparities and promotion of core labour standards. Towards this end, a coordinated policy approach involVing Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, trade unions, host communuies and international agencies is necessary to guarantee the achievement of social development objectives through tourism development.

41. The employment created through tourism development can pl.q a Significant role in the alleviation of povert y, and govern men terror ts to stimu [a te em plovment growth must emphasize the dcvclopmen t of linkages between the tourism sector and the local support industries. Since many of the local tourism firms are likely to be small enterprises, Governments should ensure that their policy and regulatory environments support small and medium enterprises by improving their access to markets, sources of information, training and credit. In this regard, due consideration should also be given to providing economic and social opportunities for wider participation and, wherever possible and acceptable, dispersing tourism activities to outlying areas in order to increase rural incomes. Attention should also be directed to the seasonal nature of employment in many tourist destinations with the aim of creJ.ting alternative ernplovrnent opportunities during the luw season, including the provision ofjob security and social safety nets.

44. Among the social problems related to tourism development ir; developing countries are the lack or indigenous senior managers and the preponderance of low-skilled or unskilled employment in the tourism sector. One way to address these problems is lor national Governments to work in partnership

64

Kernt« - Explorlng Future Frontiers in Tourism Development

with the tourism industry and civil society to strengthen secondary, vocational and advanced education to ensure that the developmental needs of society as well as the specific needs of the tourism sector are met.

45. It is crucial that tourism development planning preserves the legacy, heritage and integrity of tourism destinations and respects the social and cultural norms of society, particularly among the indigenous communities. To this end, there is a need to control the rate of growth of the tourism sector where it may jeopardize local communities and social values. The point of contact between visitor and host is potentially the most important source of negative social and cultural impacts, and it is necessary to try to eradicate potential areas of misunderstanding and friction. Some of the major [ll'essures on the sociocultural fabric of host economies occur when the growth in visitor arrivals is 100 rapid and when there is unrestricted access to culturally fragile areas. Therefore, there is a Significant role for the local community 111 deciding what it is prepared to offer, how its cultural patrimony is lO be presented and which, if any aspects of the culture are oll-Iimits to visitors.

46. In this regard, tourism community aw.areness campaigns are now generally being advocated in tourism development pbnlling to inform people of the benefits to be gained from iounsm development. Informing the C0111111Unity should be a continuing process and should be a respousihilitv of the national tourism agencies, private sector association and community representatives. In order to stimulate cultural awareness, Governments should. wor.k closely with communities and the private sector to ensure that available funding for tourism development is used effectively and efficiently. Therefore, there should be support for greilter involvement of communities in the planning. lmplcmentation, mon i torin g and evaluation process of to urism policies, programmes and projects. Feelings 01 alienation and exploitation mily arise where local communities ill"~ not involved in tourism development planning.

47. Ultimiltely, community parricipauon has to be linked to community benefits. Without the transference of some OJ the benefits from tourism to local communities through the creation of jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities and social benefits, efforts to promote community participation may be ineffective. The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources project ill Zimbabwe and the Administrative Manilgement Design for Game Management Areas project in Zambia arc good illustrations of how community involvement in tourism - in this case in anti-poaching activities --_ has provided financial benefits and incentives to the participating communities while promotin g en v ironmentall y s ustainab] e tourism. The game management pro] eel acti vel y in vol ves local communities in conservation and reinvests money raised from l;ark o:ntry and safari fees in community

development and local wildlife management. .

48. More needs to be doric 10 spread the lessons and examples of good business practices in the tourism sector and to provide incentives that contribute to social development. Governments should encourage the wider use of voluntary initiatives on the part of industry in both the formal and informal sectors. Indeed, th~se voluntary initiatives reflect growing corporate recognition and cornuiiuuent to its social rcsponsibili ties.

C. Social poliO chnlLengesfir the inLemational commllni!v

49. The international community faces the cballenge of promoting the interests of both hOM communities and tourists. International cooperation to advance social development objectives in the tourism sector should be built on the foundations established at the World Summit for Social Development and countries' commitments expressed in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development", The tourism sector, which is forecast to provide rapid growth in productive employment over the next two decades, can be a major contributor to the achievement of many of these goals for

65

social development if it complies with core standards and other standards related to working conditions, occupational safety and health and social security,

50. A t the same time, the international efforts to encourage the observance of these standards should go hand in hand with appropriate technical and financial assistance to countries at lower levels of development that are striving to benefit more fully from rapidly growing tourism. In order to enable these countries to develop competitive tourism sectors without compromising on labour standards, technica] cooperation may be required to help tourism flrms and small enterprises, particularly in lowincome countries, attain this goaL

51. The international community can enhance and strengtht:n international coordination and monitoring systems through liaison and networking among Governments, the private sector and concerned parties with a view to promoting the positive aspects and minimizing the negative impacts of tourism. In this regard, the Manila Declar» t i on on Soci al A spects or T ourism, issued in 1997, wi II be of grei\t relevance and can provide the hasis for international action and cooperation. National Governments, togethcr with the private sector and stakeholders, should be encouraged to work towards the fcrrnularton and eventual adoption of a global code of ethics for tourism as recommend ed in the Man ila Declara tion . Tourism development in small island developing States and coastal areas should continue to receive special international support. In the case of small island d~veloping States, there should be continued international support for activities pertaining to sustainable tourism under the Prol:':ramme of Action for

~. ~

Small Island Developing States.

52. The international community should Iarther, mobilize international support to prevent and control tour isrn-related abuse and exploitation of people, particularly women and children and other disadvantaged groups. The World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held in Stockholm in 1996, adopted a programme of action deSigned to contribute to the global effort to suppress child StX exploitation. In 1997, the A mstcrdarn Child Labour Conference issued the Amsterdam Declaration, which addressed the most intolerable forms of child labour, while in the same year the International Conference on Child Labour issued the Oslo Declaration, which addressed the issue of practical action to eliminate child labour. Governmtn ts, the tourism industry, trade unions and stakeholders should support these international efforts to end such practices in the tourism sector.

IV. TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENI'AL PROTECTION

53. The projected sustained growth of the tourism iudustrv will present serious challtnges to environmental protection. In gtlltral, the tourism industrv produces adverse environmental impacts through its consumption of resources, the pollution and waste generated lly the development of tourism infrastructure and Iacllities, transportation ·and tourist activities, In the absence of proper pl<lnning and management, tourism development can create strong competition 1'01' the use of land between tourism and other competing uses, Itading to rising prlces for land aJ1d increased pressun:: [0 build Oil ~gricultural land. Furthermore, indiscriminate tourism development can l'lIcourage intensive or inappropriate use of land, which can cause deforestauon; soil erosion and loss ol' biological diversity. Intensive human interference with vegetation and wildlife through tourism can undermine or destroy traditional activities such a~ fishing and, perhaps more importantlv, cause irreversible damage to valuable ecosystems, The growing market for ecotourism or nature tourism is another area of concern. I I' not properly planned and managed, such new forms of tourism can threaten the world's most ",cologically fragile areas, inclu ding parks and natural world hl'ritage si tes. 1m portan t sustainabi Ii ty considerations also arise from tourism' s use of the built environment, for example thrOllgh "heritage tourism», which

66

Kerul« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Deve!oJ)IIIe1/(

can cause, inter alia, urban problems such as traffic congestion experienced by many historical city centres.

54. Coastal area development for tourism is an issue of 'particular Concern. The unchecked construction of tourism facilities can despoil the pristine beauty or these areas and erosion from tourism facilities and infrastructures built too dose to tbc coast can contribute to beach destruction and +coasta 1 degradation. Practices such as intensive sand mining [or' tourism-related construction - a feature of many coastal areas - have been responsible for beach destruction; in coastal areas where coral reefs have been destroyed by sewage and other pollution such beach destruction is unlikely to be replenished naturally.

55. The tre a tmcnt and disposal of liquid and solid wastes genera ted by the tourism industry is another serious problem, particularly for less developed economies that lack the physical infrastructure or capacity to treat the additional wastes generated by tourism activities. In the Caribbean, the growing frequency of tourist cruise ships is generating incre<lsing volumes of liquid and solid wastes for disposal at the ports of call. Where untreated effluents are disposed into surrounding areas of land and sea, the result often is the pollution of scarce inland freshwater resources, the loss of valuable marine life, the destruction of coral reefs and the silting and erosion of coastal beaches. Pollution from ship-generated wastes is a major concern for small island developing States, where the dumping of oily waste, sewage, garbage and cargo residues by passing cruise and merchant ships can cause marine and beach pollution.

SG. Fresh water remains a pressing concern, and the provision of fresh water to meet growing demand from agriculture, industry and households is becoming increaSingly dilllcult in mere and more economies. The tour ism industry is an extremely intensive user of fresh water and, as the industry expand" glo ball y, the problem of freshwater supply is likely to worsen. Moreover, this situation is compounded in many areas where water pollution not only d~mages tourism sites but also contaminates the freshwater supply. In addition, air pollution is likely to worsen at the local and global levels from increased carbon dioxide emissions related to energy use in tourism-related transportation and in airconditioning and heating of tourism facilities.

57. Ir oni call y, damage to the env ironmen t ihrca ten s the very viabili t y of the tourism industry because i 1 depends heavily on the natural environment - its beaches and mountains, rivers, forests and biodiversity - as a basic resource. For example, island tourism is climate-sensitive and is vulnerable to a rise in the sea level that would cause the inundation of coastal and some inland areas, threatening sanitation systems and freshwater supplies. The attractiveness of certain locations as tourist destinations has also been affected by damage to the natural landscape and the loss of biodiversity linked to human activities. Local air and noise pollution linked to urban congestion can also serve to deter tourists from visiting some destinations.

58. However, tourism can also significantly contribute to environmental protection, the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable usc of natural resources. For example the tourism induslrY can protect and rehabilita te its natura I assets, such as parks, protected areas and cul tural and na t ura I si t es, by i 1 s fin ancial can tri bu tions, provision of environrnen tal infrastructure and improved en virourncn tal] managelllent. Tourism can also help to raise the awareness of the local population to the financial and intrinsic value of natural and cultural sites, Olotiv.ating communities to reclaim their natural and cultural patrimony through environmental protection and conservation.

67

A. EmriJ'OlimeliLal boliq Ghalt.mges for the tourism indmlly

S9. The central challenge for the tourism industry is to transform itsdf, in .111 its forms, into .1 sustainable Jctivity Ly reorit:nting corporate ph.ilosophy, practic~ and ethics to promote sustamablc development through, inter alia, Letter environmental management and practices and dose partnerships

with Government and civil society. .

60. It is vital that the tourism industry involves all stakeholders - customers, stafT, trading pilTtners and the host community - in decision-making. To this end, it should develop partnerships with the host community, Governments and their agencies, other private sector companies and international organizations in order to enhance the prospects for bringing about the sustainable development of tourism.

61. Tourism enterprises, both large and small, should integrate environmental management systems and procedures into all aspects of corporate activity in order to reorient their numagement at all levels towards sustainable development. This fundamental reorientation of n1<1nagcment philosophy and practice will necessitate the implementation of. inter alia, environmental and social audits, life cycle assessments and training of stalT ill the principles and practices of sustainable tourism l1l<1nagement. In terms of operational changes, tourism enterprises should take all appropriate measures to minimize all forms of waste, conserve energy and [reshwater resources and control harmful emissions to the environment. Furthermore, tourism enterprises should plan and manage their operations to minimize the potential environmental impacts from tourism development, such as using local materials and technologies appropriate to local conditions. The tourism industry should promote wider implementation of environmental management, particularlv in the many small lind medium sized enterprises tha t form the backbone of the tourism industr y.

62. The tourism industry, by modifying the products it develops and oll".!rs the public, can directly mlluence the nature of tourism itself towards sustainable forrns of tourism In this regJrd, marketing is an important tool in the tourism industry that should be used to enhance the industry's initiatives for promoting sustainable development by, intet alia, f:lising awareness anlong their clients of the potential) environmental and social impacts of their holidays and of responsible behaviour. The tourism industry is also increaSingly interested in eco-labels ;IS a means of promoting their facilities and destinations. But even within ex is ting f orrns 01" tourism, businesses in the tourism industry can change their methods of production and delivery to achieve this end. In general, businesses in the tourism sector have a vested interest in maintaining the environmental and sociocultural resources of destination areas that represent their core business assets. Therefore, sustainability of tourism is a challenge to all tourism enterprises, regardless of their size or market orientation, and is not limited to certain niche markets such as ecotourisrn .

6~. An irnpor tant way in which tourism can achieve the tMget of sustainability is through self-regulation and voluntary initiatives. In respon~c to the call for actton on environmental protection, the tourism industry has developed a number of environmental codes of conduct and voluntary initiatives. In thi~ regard, the environmental gllideline~ developed by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WrfC) i~ espcciall y relevant for the attainment of sustaina bilit y in the tourism industry. Furthermore, a number of innovative programmes and industry awards have been introduced with the aim of promoting and improving environmental management and practices in the tourism industry.

64. WTTC, for example, conducts an environmental m<1I1agel11ent programme for travel and tour-ism companies and tourism destinations called Green Globe. Launched in 1994, this progr<lmme aspires to

68

Keraln - Esploriug Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

raise the level of environmental awareness and to provide a low-cost practical means for companies within the industry to undertake improvements in environmental practice. Members of the programme are committed at the chief executive officer level to improving environmental practice in priority action areas through their adherence to Green Globe or equivalent industry guidelines. The programme also bestows annual achievement awards on member companies that demonstrate outstanding commitment to improving envi~onmental practices. Green Globe. members can aho earn a certificate of performance based on independent verification 0 improvements in environmental practice through the Societe Gcncrale de Surveillance S.A.

65. A nother innovative programme is the International Hotel Environmcn t lnitia ti ve (I HEl), established in 1992 l>y the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum to promote environmental management in the hotel industr v , Led l>y council of 12 of the top hotel companies in the world, IKE promotes the business benefits of environmental management within the international hotel community develops hotel-specific environmental training materials publishes a quarterly magaZine, Green Hotelier, dedicated to environmental issues and promotes greater awareness 0- IKEI "best practice" programmes. A local chapter, the Asia Pacific Hotels Environment Initiative, operates in the Asia. Pacific region. IHE! is developin g guidelines for the si ting and design of hotels.

66. The Blue Flag programme, which now extends to HI countries in Europe, was first conceived in France in 1985 as an incentive to protect and i Il1prove the q u ali t)' of beaches and coasts. Under this programme, environmental standards are assessed at individual beaches in Europe by measuring compliance with acceptable concentrations of range. of pollutants on beaches and in marinas to ensure clean l>athing water. Beaches are also judged by their compliance with gUidelines pertaining to litter management, toilet facilities, life saving and first-aid equipment, the separation of different recreational activities frOlll each other and from sensitive natural areas, as well as environmental education and activities. Beaches that meet these stringent criteria receive Blue Flag awards that attest to the quality of their maintenance and environmental protection. The success of the programme has inspired the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization, to extend the award to nonEuropean countries as well.

67. Despite the well-intentioned and noteworthy initiatives of the tourism industry to improve its standards of environmental management and protection, there is plenty of room for additional efforts. In particular, if the codes of conduct and voluntary initiatives are to achieve their full impact on environme ntal protection, the tourism industry must act to ensure that those in struments are adopted and implemented by all tourism enterprises. Furthermore, these industry initiatives need to be monitored, assessed and re ported to reflect their progress in aUaining the o bje cti yes of sustainable development in generill and of environmental protection in particular.

B. Environ men tn l poliO' _dzalknges &1" nfl/irmal G(}[!~menls

68. Governments face the challenge of prornotiIi.g to'~ri~1ll development in a manner that will maximize the positive influence of tourism on economic and social development as well as environmental objectives , while minimizing its negative impact on the natural environment. An appropriate balance needs to be established between the goals of sustainable tourism development and environmental protection; in particular, the development of sustainable tourism should not impede or diminish sustamability in other sectors of the economy nor, by the same token, should unsustainable practices in related economic sectors (such as agricultur~ or mineral extraction) limit the potential for tourism to become more sustainable, In order to achieve this, high priority should be assign~d to the integration of

69

policies for tourism development with environmental protection. Within this integrated policy framework, it will be necessary for regulatory policies and systems of economic incentives and disincentives to be reviewed to ensure those clear environmental goals and objectives are set for the tourism industry. Policy makers should also address the need for cJpacity- bUilding ;'IS well as environmental monitoring and data collection to support the efforts of the tourism industry and civil societ y to improve en vir onrnental protection.

69. The quest for sustainable tourism will require change on the part of all major groups involved in tourism. Therefore, the overarching objective for national Governments must be to develops policy frameworks that will enable and encourage those changes .. In this regard, an important area of action for Governments is to develop national strategies or master plans for tourism that will provide focus and direction to all stakeholders. These strategies and master plans need to be complemented and supported by appropriate regulatory mechanisms and tools to deal with environmental assessment, building regulations and environmental standards for tourism. Governments should ensure that all environmental regulations and environmental policy measures arc applied to all businesses in the tourism sector, regMdleSCl of size or type of tourism activity. It is important that all Governments that have not illready done so give due consideration to the ratification and implementation of international and regional environmental conventions, particularly those relating to tourism activities.

70. Tourism, in particular mass tourism, should be' regulated and, where necessary, prohibited in ecologically and culturally sensitive areas. Also, in protected areas and where nature is particularly diverse, vulnerable and attractive, tourism should be permitted only when it meets the requirements of nature protection and biological diversity conservation. In coastal areas where tourism can impose serious environmental damage, Governments should fully implement the principles of integrated coastal area manilgement. Environmental impact studies are an important too! for sustainable development and should be undertaken in the preoperative stage. However> where tourism activities can contribute to environmental conservation, they should be encouraged and promoted.

71. The continued strong growth in tourism is expected to increase the volume of travel related to tourism in all forms. A major environmental irnphcation of this trend is that, if unchecked, it will lead to increases in the level of emissions, waste and pollution resulting from tourism-related transportation. In particular, Governments should pay special attention to negative environmental impacts of road and air truffle and take steps to ensure that tourism development incorporates environmentally Ii·iendly modes of transport. In this regard, a mix of economic, technologlcal and management approaches may be useful. For instance, consumption patterns can be Inlluenced tbrough appropriate marketing, pricing and consumer education, or new forms of tourism can be developed.

72. The use of economic instruments to promote sustainable tourism should be extended further. It is clear that environruental performance in the tourism industry C~l1 be improved by a judicious mix of Instruments, comprising both incentives and direct regulation that facilitate innovation and complement economic policies. In gentr:ll, existing economic incentives that encourilge environmentally unlrtcndly activities should be removed. The full costing and pricing or energy and water, in particular , can promote ceo-efficiency in the tourism industry as well as provide additional revenue that can be used to support improved management of those resources. In this regard, the user-pays principle is appropriate and should be more Widely applied and supported. The role of the banking and insurance sectors in sustainable tourism should be developed and encouraged. In particular, banks and insurance companies can promote sustainable rourism by advocating policieS that incorpora.l::: environmental and social criteria into assessment procedures for loans, invesunents. and insurance They could help fin.-mce environmentally sound technologies and provide incentives for sustainable tourism,

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Kerttla - Exploring Future Frontiers in Tourtsm Development

73. The promotion of partnerships among all stakeholders is vital to the attainment of sustainable tourism, and Governments can play an important role by encouraging. supporting and facilitating the involvement and commitment of all stakeholders, especially indigenous and local communities, in the planning, development and management of tourism. The development of such participatory approaches can also encourage and promote responsible practices among businesses, host communities and tourists, for example, through the development of codes of conduct, gUidelines and voluntary initiatives in

support of sustainable development. '

74. It is important to raise public awareness about sustainable tourism and to encourage more responsible behaviour. Often, if tourists are given opportunities to learn about the culture and environment of the host community prior to their visit, they behave more responsibly. Local communities and businesses also benefit from awareness-raising activities that alert then} to the environmental impact of their activities and interactions with tourists. It is important, therefore, to ensure that sustainabilitv issues are fully integrated into courses at all levels of education in order to develop environmental awareness and the skills required to promote sustainable tourism. In order to ensure that sustainable tourism becomes the concern of the whole industry, it is nc cessnry for Governments to work in partnership with the tourism industry to develop training progranlme~ and networks to exchange training materials dealing with environmental protection. In addition, nongovernmental organizations have made important contributions to raising t:ommunity awareness of environmental and sustainability issues, and such activities should be supported.

75. In view of the fact that many tourism activities and their impacts are highly localized, it is necessary to promotel:apacity building among local government entities. Already, in lllllny countries local governments have important responsibilities for tourism development and management, and capacitybuilding progr,uumes will enable them to better understand these responsibilities with respect LO sustainable tourism.

76. There is a need to improve the monitoring and reporting of industry's progress towards the objective of sustainable tourism. The Government should encourage the tourism industry to use participatory approaches involving all stakeholders to develop .the monitoring and public reporting of its activities, particularly with regard to their compliance With unenforceable codes of conduct and voluntary initiatives. At the same time, local and central governments should enhance their capacity to monitor the performance of the tourism industry and to develop suitable indicators that can be used in their decision-making,

77. Governments should fully support and promote the voluntary initiatives of the tourism industry and encourage the dissemination of best practices within the business and local community. Incentives, induding the award of prizes, certificates and eco-labe]s for sustainable tourism, should be used to encourage the private sector to meet its responsibilities for achieving sustainable tourism. The success of the Blue Flag programme in Europe is a good example or the practical contribution of such an approach.

C. Emri.ronmenlal poliO' challengesfor the inltrnl1lional community

78. The major t:hallenge faCing the international community is to assist Governments, especially those of developing countries, to promote tourism development within the framework of sustainable development in order to maximize the potential economic and soda] benefits from tourism without damaging the environment or cultural assets.

71

79, The predicted growth in international tourism raises fresh concerns about the impact of tourism development on the environment. In the absence of adequate measures, it is likely that the projected increase in the volume of international tourism will generate outcomes, such as increases in air , sea and land transportation that Can harm the environment. Thus, the major challenge facing the international community are to deal with the negative trans- boundary and global impacts of tourism on the en vironment and to support the cllorts of countries, particularly developing countries, to improve thl: environmental sustainability of their tourism industries at the national level. Therefore, policy coordination and cooperation at the international level is ne~ded to address the global environmental impacts of tourism, as well as issues of biological diversity, coastal area management and ecotourisrn.

80. The international community has already taken important steps thrOL!gh the development of international, regional and multilateral agreements and gUidelines that address the issue of sustainable tourism. However, these now need to be ellecuvely translated into practical progrOlmmes for implementation by the tourism industry, Governrilents and civil SOCiety. Of particular importance to the environmental sustainability of tourism are the Convention 01) Biological Diversity, the Berlin Declaration on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Tourism, the Male Declaration on Sustainable Tourism Development, the Declaration of San Jose, the Charter for Sustainable Tourism, the World Herit<tge Convention and ABemla 11 for the Travel dnd Tourism Industry" Furthermore, at the region'll level, it is important to take account of the recommendations on the sustainable development of tourism in the eastern African States and the Council of Europe's recommendations on a general policy for sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism development. In addition, there is ongoing work to develop globJl guidelines on biological diversity 'and sustainable tourism in the Convention on Biological Diversity, and principles for the implementation of sustainable tourism in UNEP. In this regard, the international community has an important role to play in developing a set of internationally recognized reporting standards as well as external monitoring and accreditation sy~tems for a$ses~ing the sustainability of tourism services.

8 I. The international community also hag an important role in assisting devdoping countries, in particular the least developed countries, economies in transition and small island developing States, through the provision of financial and technical assistance to governments at all levels, to develop a range of meal1lngful and elTective planning guideline~, codes of good practice, r.:gulatory frameworks and policy provisions aimed" at achieVing sustainable tourism. Such assistance is crucial, inter alia, for the development of integrated national tourism policies. and master plans, capacity bUilding, development of tour-ism inlrastruct urc and the prom otion of sustainable planru» g and mamgemen t of tourism. It shou ld also be used to develop techniques and frameworks for assessing the environmental and social impacts of tourism at the national, regional and local levels, and to promote the usc of integrJted environmental management and social responsibility programmes for sustainable tourism. At the same time, the international community should support the development of inventories of tourism activities and attractions that take into account the impact of tourism on ecosptems and biological diversity, In this regard, technical, and scientific coop.:ration should be established through the clearinq-hcuse mechanism of the Convention on Biodiversity.

81. A further challenge for the international community is to help countries, especially d~vdo]>ing countries, to progreSSively raise environmental standards and to adopt technologies that enhance environmental protection without unduly reducing the international competitive pO$ition of tourism enterprises. ln this regard, tourism activities that employ environmentally sound technologies to save water and energy, prevent pollution, treat wastewater, minimize solid waste production and .:nl·ourage recycling should be promoted to the fullest extent. Similarly, tourism activities that ~ncourage the usc of public and non-motorized transport should be supported. The international community will !1OlVl: to

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Keral« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

strengthen development c<)operalion to make tourism development more environmentally sustainable, while emphasizing Ilnancial support and measures to accelerate the transfer of environmentally sound technology. Steps should be ta ken to radii tate the interne tional exchange of in forma tion, experience and technical skills, especially between the developed and developing countries.

83. Regional cooperation is an important modality for promoting the development of sustainable tourism and should be supported because it opens up opportunities for regional collaboration in such areas as tourism development planning, market development and promotion, strengthening and expansion of the roles of national and regional tourism institutions and organs and training and manpower development. In recent years, various efforts have been made to forge common regional approaches to the promotion of sustainable tourism development. For example, the Economic and Social Corum ission for Asia and the Pacific has endorsed' a plan of action for sustainable tourism development in the Asia and Pacific region. The Tourism Council of the South Pacific has been successful as a regional agcn<:y in the area of marketing and promotion of the South Pacific as a tourist destination, while for the Caribbean small island developing States, the formation of the Caribbean Coalition lor Tourism has pooled resources for cooperative marketing.

84. International organizations, in particular UNEP and the World Tourism Organization, have been important in promoting action to deal with the .environmcntlll impacts of tourism and to promote sustainable tourism. UNEP has developed fi:uitful partnerships with Industry associations at the international level to provide information about and disseminate examples of good environmental practkes, in particular on codes of conduct and environment management of hotels. In 1997, the World Trade Organization convened the Asia-Pacific Mini~tei-s' Conference on Tourism and Environment and the World Tourism Leaders' Meeting on the Social Impacts of Tourism. The international community should support the programmes and initiatives of such international organizations designed to promote sustainable tourism.

85. Finally, with regard to the International Year of Ecotourism ill 2002, the Commission on Sustainable Development has been requested to recommend to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, supportive measures and activities that will contribute to a successful year (Council resolution 1998/40, para. 3). In order to fulfil this requcst, H will be necessary for the Commission to initiate and facilitate consultations to discuss the measures and activities that may be undertaken in 2002. The international community and all major groups should fully support and participate in this process to ensure that the event will achieve all its objectives. Furthermore, in view of the fact that the General Assembly, in its resolution 5:.124 of 10 November 1998, has also proclaimed the year 2002 as the International Year of Mountains, the Commission for Sustainable Development may wish to consider possibilities for linking some of the activities of the two years.

!:ndnoter

I 'World Tourism OrgJaiutioll, Tourism Hi8hli8hts 1997 (Madrid, 1 ')')8).

I United Nations Conference all Trade and Development, ~lnt(.'r"atioll~1 trade in tourism-r-elated services:

issue s and options r or dcveloping countries" (TD I BleOAI. II EM. 6/2).

I World Tourism OrganiUltion. Tourism Hiahljahrs 1997 (Madrid, I '}1)8).

• United ~ations Conference on Trade and Development, "International trade in tourism-related services: issues and options for dcvt:loping countries" (T{)I BleOM. II EM.6/2).

S _ United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,

7)

Report of the Expert Meeting on Strengthening the Capacity lor Expanding the Tourism Sector In De .... eloping Countries. with Particular Focus on Tour Operators. Tra v el Agencies

and Other Suppliers (lD/B/COM. 1/17- TDu:!/COM. ]/EM.6J3).

(. Report of the World SunHnil for Social Ueve lopment , Copenhagen 6--12 March 19% (United Nations publication, Sales No. E. 96.IV .8), chap, I, resolution 1, annex L

" World Tourism Org_Jnizatioll, World TrJ.\'eJ and TOllr;~111 Council and Earth Council, rlB~nrlu l!for the Travel "",I Tourism In "" , *~r (] 997).

74

Keral« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

An extract from

Development of Approaches and Practices for

the Sustainable Use of Biological Resources,

including Tourism

Note by the Executive Secretary, Subsidiary body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, Convention on Bio-diversity

June 1999

II. THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

7. The sustainable usc of the components of [;,io]ogical diversity Is one of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. For the purposes of the Convention, "sustainable usc" means the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long term decline of [;'iological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations" (Arucle 2). This definition of sustainable use is consistent with the concept of sustainable development as elaborated in the Rio Prmciples and Agenda 21, whereby "sustainable development" meets the needs and aspirations of the current generations without compromising the abilttv to meet those of future generations. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without the sustainable use of the world's biological resources. The concept of sustainable use is grounded in Article 10 on sustainable use of components of biological diversity and Article 6 on general measures for conservation and sustainable use of the Convention on Biodi vesitv.

A. Economic Importance O[Towllm

•

8. Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries and the major source of foreign exchange earnings for many developing countries. The receipts from international tourism grew at an average annual rate of 9 per cent for the ten-year period Irom 1988 to 1997, reaching $443 billion in 1997. Tourist arrivals worldwide increased by 5 per cent per annum on average during the same period'. According to wro, tourism receipts accounted for it little over 8 per cent of total world exports of goods and almost 35 per cent of the total world exports of services in 1997. The breakdown of the travel account balance shows that the industrialized countries as a whole are the net importers of such services, while the developing countries as a whole have been increasing their surplus. The surplus for the latter group of countries widened steadily from $4.6 billion in 1980 to $65.9 billion in 1996, offsetting more than two-thirds of their current account deficit in 1996. The travel surplus has widened

75

stcadil y in all developing regions in the past decade. Er,::01 iornies in tran sition recorded a dcfici t of $ 3.5 billion in 1995, which swung back to a surplus of oS 1.5 billion in 1 996.

9. From the production point of view I tourism contributes around t.5 per cent of world gross national product (GNP/. Tourism is also a major source of employment, the hotel accommodation sector alone employing around 11.3 million people worldwidel. Furthermore, tourism based on the natural environment is a vital and growing segment of the tourism industry, accounting lor $ 260 billion in 1995'. In a number of developing countries, tourism has alreildy overtaken cash crop agriculture or mineral extraction as their major source of national income".

R· T01l71sm And Enuironmen l

1 O.The global social, economic and environmental impacts of tourism arc immense and highly complex. (;ivcn that a high percentage of tourism involves visits to naturally and culturally distinguished sites, generating brge amounts of revenue, there are clearly major opportunities for investing in the maintenance and sustainable usc of biological resources. At the same tirue , ell"nrts must be made to minimize the adverse impacts of the tourism industry on biological diversity.

11. Historical observation indicates that self-regulation of the tourism industry for sustainable use of biological resources has only rarely been successful. This is due to a number of factors. Firstly. as there are mJny individual operators, local environmental conditions may be viewed as a type of common property resource. lt will not be in the interests of Jny individual operator to invest more than his or her corupetitors in maintainlng the general environmental standards in the resort. Similarly. operJtors arc very likely to "export" their adverse environmental impacts, such <IS refuse, wastewater and sewage, to parts of the surrounding area unlikely to be visited by tourists. This reaches its most extreme form ill socalled "enclave" tourism, where tourists mJY remain for their entire star in an artificiJlly maintained environment isolated from its surroundings.

[ 2 . Second 1 y, in terriational tourism operates in an increasingly global ni arke t in which investors and tourists have an ever-widcrunq choice of destinations. Indeed the s\:i\rch lor new and novel areas and ex perie nee s is one of the 111J. jor engines driving the to urism life cycle. Moreover. much of the tourism industry is controlled by financial interests located away from tourist destinations. When environmental conditions begin to deteriorate in a given location, operators arc likely to shift to alternative locations rather than to invest in improving those conditions.

13. Finally, the mternational tourism market is fiercely compcutivc , much of operating on low profit margins. Operators are therefore often extremely reluctant to absorb any additional costs associated with improving environmental conditions, and instead will often find it economically expedient to shift their area of operation rather than lace such costs.

Ill. POTENTlAL lMPACTS ON IlIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF TOURISM

14.ln considering the role of tour ism in the sustainable use 01 bio!ogical resources and their diversity, it is important that the potential <ldverse impacts at tourism an.' .fully considered These <Ire roughly divided into environmental impacts and socio-economic impacts, the latter generally being those imposed on local and indigenous communities. Although such impacts on bio)ogicJI resources may be less ~asy to quantilv and analyze. systematically, they m<ly be at least as important as, if not more

76

Kerola - Explorillg Ftnure Frontiers ;11 Tourism Development

important than, environmental impacts in the long term. Section A addresses the potential adverse impacts on environment, while section B contains the potential socio-economic impacts.

IS. Despite the potential negative impacts, and given the fact that tourism generates a large proportion of income and that a growing percentage of tourism is nature-based, tourism does pre~ent a significant potential for realizing benefits in terms of the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. Section C addresses the potential benefits of tourism, both tangible and intangible. Among the tangible benefits arc direct revenues generated by fees and taxes incurred for the use of biological resources. These revenues can be used for the maintenance of natural areas and the ccntrtbution of tourism to economic development, induding linkage effects to other related sectors and Job creation. Intangible benefits include the education of local .communirlcs as well as tourists and poten tia I poli tical levera gl' _

A. FlllIironmenia{ Imparts

16. Use c:f land and reIOurce~: Direct USI: of natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable, in the provision of tourist facilities is one of the most Significant direct impacts of tourism in a givl:n area. Such usc may be one-off or may be recurring. The most important are: (i) the use of land for accommodation and other infrastructure provision, including road networks; and (ii) the U5~· of bUilding materials. Strong cornpctit ion for the use of land between tourism and other sectors results in rising price~, which increase the pressures on, for example, agricultural land. The choice of site is also at important factor. Generally preferred "attractive landscape sites", such as, sandy beaches, lakes and riversides, and mountain tops and slopes, are often transitional zones, normally characterized by specie~rich ecosystems. As a result of the construction of building~ in these areas, they arc often either destroyed or severely impaired". Deforestation and intensified 01· unsustainable USI: of land also cause erosion and loss of biologi cal diversi ty. Due to lack "of more suitable sites for construction of bUildings and other Inlras tructu re, coastal wetlands arc often drained and filled. Cons truction of marinas in certain sites can also impact on ecosystems and even coastal coral reefs. In addition, bUilding materials arc often extracted in an unsustainable manner fr91n ecosySlI:ms. Excessive usc of fine sand of beaches; reel" limestone and wood can cause severe erosion 7• Furthermore, creation of congenial conditions for tourists maX often entail various forms of environmental manipulation that may have deleterious consequences for biological resources.

17. lmpacts on veactatian: Direct impact on the species composition of vegetatioll on the ground layer can be caused by trampling and off-road driving. Plant picking and uprooting by plant collectors and casual flower-pickers can also lead to loss of individual speCies. Passage of tourism vehicles, particularly in high volumes along popular routes, also has adverse effects on vl:getatioLl, resulting in a loss of vege ta tion cover. Furthermore, fores t n res may be caused by the careless use of cam pllrl:s. The choice of sites for construction facilities can also afTect vegetation patterns and species diversity".

18. Impacts on wildlife: Wildlife and other types of nature-oriented tourism may have a number of direct impacts on natural resources. The severity of these impacts is variable and has rarely been quantified for any specific cases. Actual or potential impacts include: (i) damage caused by tourism activities and eqUipment; (ii) increased risk of the spread of pathogeng from humans or companion animals to wild species; (iii) increased risk of introduction of alien specks; (iv) disturbance of wild species, thereby disrupting normal behaviour and- conceivably ~ITecting mortality and reproductive success; (v) alterations in habitats; and (vi) c~nsllmption of wildlife by tourists.

19. One of the direct effects on wildlife of specialist tourism is the depletion of local populations of certain species caused by hunting, shooting and fishing. Uneducated divers and tour operators can cause

77

extensive damage to coral reefs through trampling and anchoring. Tourists and tourist tran$portation me ans can in crease the risk of introdUcing alien species, In addi tion, the manner an d frequency of human pre3ence can cause disturbance to the behavior of animals, 'in particular. noise caused by radios, motorboat engines and motor vehicles. Even without much noise, some waterfowl can be agitated by canoes and rowing boats. Construction activities related to tourism can cause enormous alteration to wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Furthermore, increased consumption of wildlife by tourists can affect local wildlife populations ami local llsbertes as well as the amount available for consumption by localpeople. Souvenir manufacturing using wildlife, in particular such cndangered species as cor a 15 and turtle shells, Gill also seriously afiect those po pulations.

20./mpacts ~.r moun/ain cn~jronmcnrs: Tourism has been for many years focused on mountain areas, which provide opportunities for hiking, white-water rafting, Jly Ilshing, para-gliding, and winter sports, especially skiing and related activities. Pressures [rom these .. ctivities on biological resources and their diversity are enormous and include: construction of hiking trails! bridges in high mountains, camp sites, chalets and hotels as well as resulting erosion and pollution. There has been increasing awareness of and publicity on the negative effects or tourism on mountains. The Kathmandu Declaration on Mount a in Activities was adopted as long ago as 1932 by the international Union of Alpine Associations in order to address these pressures on the fragile mountain ecosystems and to call for improved practices (see section IV, B.). The case study on the Annapurna Conser vation Area project also poin IS out the dill'icuhy in managing increased tourism activities in the fragile mountain ecosystems.

Zl Jmpaas on the marine and coastal environment: Tourism activities may have major impacts 011 the marine and coastal en vironmen t, the resources they host and the eli ver si t y of those resources. Most often, those im pacts are due to inaccu rate planning and/ or lack of education an d awareness of the impacts by, lor example, tourist resorts along the coastal zones. But sometimes decisions for tourism development are based only on the potential economic benefit, in spite or the known potential damage to the en vironrnent , as in the case of var ious coral reef resorts. Coastal erosion often atT ects many coastal infrastructures that have been built for tourism purposes. However, it is often those very infrastructures that have altered dune replenishment processes (causing beach erosion), modified local currents by building harbor-like structures (causing, for example , the srnothcrirrg of superficial corals), a nd led to eutrophication through inappropriate positioning of the resort sewage "ptems and the often absent treatment of the water discharged. In open waters, shipping for tourism purposes has sometimes been found to cause pollution due to limited intentional spills, and to carry species into new environments.

22. While the im pact of tourism on coastal resources may already be a serious issue 1 the degradation of these resources may cause the impo verishment of their di versit y 1 as in the case for mangrove: ecosystems adjacent to tourist resorts. This may have significant ecological and economic implications for loca] populations.

23. Impacts on mltc[ rCSQurCf,': Fresh water, in general, is already faCing growing demand from agriculture, i nd u~try and households in many parts of the world. In some locations, such as in mnn y srn all island developing states, additional demand [rom tourism, which is extremely water-intensive, is an acute pr-oblem". The abstraction of groundwater can cause desiccation, resulting in loss of biological diversity. For the quality of water, some activities are potentially more damaging than others, For example, lise of motorboats can lead to beach and shoreline erosion, dissemination of aquatic weed nuisances, chemical contamination and turbulence and turbidity in shallow waters'", The disposal of untreated effluents into surrounding rivers and seas can cause eutrophication. It can ,,1,,0 introduce a large amount of pathogens into the water body, making it dangerous for swimming. Naturally nun-lent-rich ecosystems, such as mangroves, can per lorrn butler and fil tering functions tu a certain extent.' .

~ ~

78

Kerol« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Devetopment

14. Wasr<! manag<!mUlt: Disposal of waste produced by the tourism industry may cause major environmental problems, Such waste can generally be divided into sewage and wastewater'; chemical wastes and pollutants; and solid waste (garuage or ru bbish}, The effect of direct discharge 0 f un treated sewage leading to eutrophination, oxygen deficit and algal blooms has-already been pointed out.

2S.Environmental impact of travel: Travel to and from international tourist destinations causes significant environmental impacts uu-ough pollution and production of "greenhouse~. gases. A high proportion of international tourist uavels by air. Such travel is believed to be the most environmentallv costly per passe nger· kilometer, although the true costs are diOkull to assess accurately, as are the impacts on uiological resources and their diversity.

H. Son:o-ewnmnic im,pacfs q/follris1I1

2.6. 111ux oj people aad relarcd social d~gT(Jdati(Jn: Increased tourism activities call cause <ILL mllux of people seeking employment or entrepreneurial opportunities, but who may not be able to find suitable employment. This may cause social degradation, such as local prostitution, drugs and so forth)!'. In addition, due to the unstable nature of international tourism, communities that come to rely heJ.vily on tourism in economic terms are vulnerable to the d131lges in. the now of tourist arrivals and may face sudden loss of income and job in lime of downturn.

27. Impacts on local communities: When tourism development occurs, economic benefits are usually unequally distributed amongst members of local communities. There is evidence suggesting that those who benefit are often limited in number and that those who benefit most are often those who were <It an economic advantage to begin with, particularly land-owners who can alford the investment. In the case of foreign direct investment, much of the profit may be transferred back to the horne country. Therefore, tourism can actual] y increase inequalities in com muni tics, and thus relative poverty. Til addition, tourism increases local demand for goods and services, including food, resulting in higher prices and potentially decreased availability for local people.

28. A more direct example of where tourism may conflict directly with the needs and aspirations of local peoples is where the latter are excluded from particular areas given over to tourism, or at least have their rights of access severely curtailed. This is most likely to occur in protected areas created to conserve wildlife. In most cases, however, the designation of such areas as protected, and the exclusion of local people from them, have preceded the development of tourism in such areas, rather than haVing been a product of it. On the other hand, as in the case of the Maldives, direct conflict can be avoided by isola ting the tourism industry from the bulk of the indigenous population. This isolation has been possible in the Maldives because of the availability of a large number of uninhabited islands that can be developed into tourist resort islands".

29. Impacts 011 culturo] salues: Tourism has a highly complex impact on cultural values. Tourism activities may lead to intergenerational conllicrs through changing aspirations of younga members or communities who may have more contact with, and are more likely to be affected by, the behaviour of tourists. Traditional practices and even ts may also be in Iluenced by the tourist preferences. This rna y lead to erosion of traditional practices, including cultural erosion and disruption of traditional lifest yle~. Furthermore, they may affect gender relationships through, for example, oITering diITerent employment opportunities to men and women.

79

C. Potmtial Bmefi4 QjTQurism For The Conservation Q(Biowgicol Dil1ersi{y Anrl Tht Suslninable Use QUts Components

A) TANGiBLE BENEFITS

30. Revenue creation Jor Mainunana if natura! areas: The most direct means of exploiting tourism for the sustainable use of biological resources is through the harnessing of some proportion of tourism revenues for that end. This may be achieved either through a generalized environmental tax on tourists or particular tourism activities or by chllrg.ing fees for access to biological' resources, the revenue from which can then be used for their maintenance. The latter procedure generillly means charging entrance fees to national parks and other protected areas, but also includes fees for activities, such as fhhillg, hunting and diving,

32. There are several notable, and evidently expanding. specialist tourism sectors, where pi\rlicip~nt$ may be willing to pay such fees. The larg.est Single specialist sector at present is prob<lbly bird-watchinq, although it is not clear whether bird-watchers as a group are in fact any more willing to jllly than less specialized tourists. In marine-based wildlife tourism, scuba diving represents important specialist sector. The specialist sector, which appears to show the highe~t willingness to pay is sport huntin~, where very large license fees CM) be charged under some circumstances, lt must also be recognized that these fees and taxes can also be used as measures to reguhte the level ofaccess to concerned sites and biological resources. In addition, the prospect of their continued revenue generation provides a direct incentive for the maintenance of the populations or ecosystems.

32. TourimJ cOrluibution to aOll(lmic dudoplD(nt; Whether tourists are paying access fees or not, they have a major economic impact on the areas that they visit. Tourist expenditures, in net terms, generate income to the host communities. Tourism also stimulates infr;utructure investment, such J~ construction of bUildings, roads, railroads, airports, sewage systems, water treatment facilities and other tourism-related facilities. Tourism generates job opportunities in the sector and offers various related business opportunities derived from tourism. Increasing revenue. nows in a region may also allow development of more sustainable land-use practices, by allOWing, for exarnple.: farmers to usc improved rotations and some level of [erullzer input rather than relying on slash-and-burn cultivation to restore soil fertility through faJlow periods. Tourism can also provide a viahle economic alternative to unsustainable production or harvesting practices.

33, In some areas, low-input and small-scale agricultural activities. that result in both an attractive environment and the maintenance of high levels of biological diversity can also ofTer ,111 opportunity for tourism. Sale of products (curios and souvenirs) derived from sllstainably harvested natural resources may also provide signifkant opportunities for income generation and employment.

(iJ) INTANGIBLE iJENEfiTS

34. Public educauon rlnd aWQreneu.- Tourism can serve as a major educational 0p!lortunity, increasing knowledge of natural ecosy~tems and local communities among~l a broad range of people. Such education may be reciprocal. In some parts of the world, local people have become more aware or the uniqueness of their local biological resources, for example the presence of endemic species, through the advent of tourism. Tourism can also provide incentives to maintain traditional arts and crafts and opportunities to learn about dillerent cultures. Furthermore, tourism may under some circumstances encourage the maintenance or revitalization of traditional practices that arc favourable to the sustainable use of biological resources and that would otherwise be in danger of being lost.

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Kerul« - ExplorillG Future Frontiers III Tourism Development

35. P,,/itic<.IJ lel'erClse: Wherc a country has come to depend hcavilv on international tour-ism, thi> may serve as an encOUr<lg_clllcnt to good governance _ As rnternauonal tourist> become Increilsingly wcii informed and capable of exercising choicc in their destinations, perceived deterioration in governance i~ very likely to deter a signifiClnt proportion of tourists from choo~illg a givcn country <IS a destination, because of a mixture of altruistic or moral concern and self-interest. The link between good govcrn<lncc and maintenance of biological resources is neither direct nor explicit, but is undoubtedly of fundamental underlying importance.

IV. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL STRATEGIES FOR SVST AINABLE TOUruSM THAT ADDRESS BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

A. OblionsJOr good practices

36. A55C55mcnr and monitorirlS: It is fundamental that a thorough impact assessment be done before any tourism-related project is started. In assessing the impact of tourism on the sustainable use of biological resources and their diversity, and in attempting to harness the potential benefits of tourism to this end, all the above factors should ideally be taken into consideration. In most circumstances, a comprehensive assessment will not be feasible. Thus decisions will have to be made based on best available information and with a considerable element of judgment. In assessing the impact, tourism carrying capacity for a specific site should also be defined in order to obtain an indication of the limits and limitations of tourism development . .It can also assist in planning the types 'and modes of tourism activities to be developed, The principle of adaptive management is likely IQ prove useful, where decisions are made en the basis of best available information and thcn modified in 'light of the outcomes resulting from those decisions. In order to effectively adjust the activities, a suitable monitoring mechanism should also be installed.

37. Hiqh-valuc. Jow·yo}ume touriSIR: High-value, low-volume tourism is Widely advocated as the best method of maximizing benefits from tourism with less negatlvc impacts on the natural environment. From the experience of protected area management, it is generally accepted that the ll1;1nagement costs associated with protected areas, and the pressures on resources, increase in proportion to the number of visitors to a given area. In very unique sites, such as in the Galapagos National Park of Ecuador and in the Parc National des Volcans of Rwanda, this management option can be easily adopted. For example, by the late 19808, the Pare National des Volcans was charging $170 per visit for gorilla viewing, with the maximum number of visitors per year set at 6.000H• Similar high entrance fees are charged at Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya National Parks and Mount Everest. This may, however, result in the exclusion of local people from accessing these areas.

38. Optimizing we if touril'm revenues: The problem of making the 'best use of tourism revenues obtained through protected area entrance fees or other levies is a general one. In government-run protected areas, revenues often accrue to general treasury funds, so that there is no relationship between the income generated from a protected area and the budget available for its management. Where income can be earmarked directly to maintaining that area, there is often.a fear that the government funds will be reduced accordingly, so that no additional resources for !llOln'agement will be made available. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that tourists' willingness to pay may often be dependent upon their understanding of how and where their fees wiU be u~ed. If there is no dear connection b C' l W cell the fee and the maintenance of the resources that thcy bave come to enjoy, willingness 10 pay is v.._ry likelv to be lower than where there is a clear link.

81

39. Furthermore , in many countries, visitation rates to duier cnt protected areas arc very lI11C(IU,d, :iO that some protected areas may receive more entrance [ecs than are needed to lllal1~ge them effectively while others do not receive enough. Where protected-area ~~.-;tems can be managed as a whole, ~lld are allowed to make direct usc of the income they generate, these problems can be mitigated. This is particularly necessary where these less-visited areas <Ire actuallv more important for the maintenance of hiological di verst t y .

40. Cha nndina [Me benifir [0 local people: An eq uall y complex an d im porlant long. term considera lion is the establishment of mechanisms that allow local people to benefit fron~ income generated by park fees. AlloWing local people to benefit in this way from protected are .. s is an important step in ensurillg the long. term viability of such areas, In regions where local people have been displaced from such areas or have had their usage rights curtailed, such benefits can serv~ as compensation and reduce hostility to the protected area, Where benefits arc tied to responsibilities, this may help to reduce controlled or forbidden activities within the area, such as umbcr-cutung, cattle grazing, burning and hunting.

41. In many cases, however, there is a high leakage of tourist revenues away from the local area, and often out of the country entirely: Mechanisms to miligiltc this mil)' include preferenu .. 1 allocauou of franchises to local people, for example, for accommodation, gUides and catering. Such systems reqUire careful, transparent management and an enforceable regulatory regime in cases of abuse. A more radical approach, often appropriate outside the Cornul protected area sy~tel1l, is the empowerment of' local communities to develop and manage their own resources, u~ing. controlled tourism as a fonn of income generation, as in the case of CAMPFIRE (Communal Areas MilLlilgement Progrilmme for lndigenou5 Resources) in Zimbabwe.

42. Maximizing revenues: Some also suggest that, based on studies on willingness-la-pay, user [ees for entry to protected areas can be greatly increased, For example, in the case of Pare National des Volcans in Rwanda cited above, it has heen suggested that the fee of S 170 per visit for Gorilla viewing could be increased substantially without discouragir:'g visitors owing to the uniqueness of the site _ In order to avoid conflicts with local people and to optimize the benefits, differentiated fees can be charged to foreign visitors and to local visitors. One such example is- the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve in Costa Rica.

43. Private management <if Re5ervc.<; Privately-owned protected areas may avoid many of the constraints and difficultie~ of government-run areas or those on communal lands. In some countries, such areas make a significant and ~df.financing contribution to the maintenance of some biological reSOUl'Ce5 and their di ver si ty, A ccordmg to a survey conducted in 1993 among 97 privately -owned Rese rvcs in La tin America and sub-Saharan Africa, of the 32 respondents, more than half reported making a prolu, Tourism provided 67 per cent of operation income and private granB accounted for another 19 per ce nt ". In the case of the Mon teverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a surplus has been reported every ye .. r since 1988. However, their long.term Viability often depends on economic conditions beyond the control of the land -owner and lor their inte n tion and acumen, so that the long-term main tenance of these resources is by no means guaJ·,ll1tced.

44. Tourism in a wider land-use CQnt~.tf: From the foregoing discussion, it becomes evident that while tourism docs present nuny opportunities for the sustainable usc of biological resources and thelr diversity, it also P05CS many threats to such usc. Its potential role is probably hest viewed from the perspective of integrated natural resources and land- usc mapag~ment in its wide sense, including integrated coastal zone Illanagemellt. Thai is. for any g:J,-cn area, an ecosystem approach should be

82

Kerala - £'l:pffJrillg Future Frontiers ill Tourism Developnteut

applied in the planning for tourism development and the costs and benefits of its development should be weighed against other opuons.

t

42 _ Re8ululO~1' rC8irrlcs: It is extr emelv likely that, in cases where tourism in some form i~ considered a

viable activit)', a regulatory regime \\ill be necessary to minimize adverse environmental and social impacts, for example in thc form of zoning, minimum environmental standards or limitation on bed numbers. At a minimum, an environmental impact assessment, including full appraisal of impact on biological diversity. should be undertaken for every major development. Even then, there will not necessarily be any guarantee that biological diversity will benefit from tourism. Various incentive measures can be formulated to induce activities to become more supportive of conservation and sustainable usc or hiologlcal divcrsuv. An Australian case study describes some options for the promotion of nature-based tourism. The recent report by UNEP on "Ecolabe]s in the tourism industry" (U N E P IE, 1998) also offers some examples. The development of voluntary en vironmen tal codes and standards within the industry. anum ber of which already exist, should be active! y encour aged, as should the education of tourists on the potential environmental impacts of their activities.

B. Illlemalional and regional strategies and insll1lmenlJ

46. As mentioned above , there have been a number of international and regional agreements and initiatives on sustainable tourism. The document ~Biological Diversity and Sustainable Tourism - Preparation of Global GUidelines", submitted for information by Germany to the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties as an information document (UNEP/CBD/COP/4/Inr.21). describes a recent development of international initiatives concerning sustainable tourism. Some notable examples are examined here.

4-7. The "Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourist Codes', adopted at the six th session of the General A ssembl y of the World Tourism Organization, in Sofia, Bu 19aria, in 1 985, ofT ers a general framework regarding tourism and tourist conduct. The Tourism Bill of Rights established the right of everyone to rest and leisure, the role of States to promote harmonious development of domestic and international tourism, and the role of tourism professionals in contributing positively to the development of tourism as well as the implementation of the Bill. The Tourist Code.Tor its part, spelled out the code of conduct for tourists.

48. Prior to this Bill, responding to the increasing threats. to their fragile ecosystems and the environment, the International Union of Alpine Associations (JUAA) adopted the Kathmandu Declaration on Mountain Activities at its forty-fourth General Assembly in 1982. Identifying the w·gent need for effective protection of the mountain environment and landscape, the Declaration called for actions to reduce the negative impact of human activities on mountains and immediate attention for the Ilora, fauna and natural resources. In addition, it established the cultural heritage and the dignity of the local population as inviolable. It further called for better education and awareness regarding environment and identified the use of appropriate technology for energy needs a the proper disposal of waste as matters of immediate concern.

49. In 1992, guidelines on the development of national parks and protected areas for tourism were jointly published by wro, UNEP and IUCNJ~, in order to encourage more appropriate tourism development in national )larks and protected areas. The guideline addresses: 1) ways and means of involVing local people !i,-ing in and arout.d projected areas; 2) determining the appropriate level of tourism in national parks; l) improving the management of the natural values of the area; 4) designing appropriate tourism tnlrastructurc in national parks; 5) promoting greater appreciation by visitors of the values of national parks; and 6) determining how tourism activity in national parks can serve as a self-

83

Iln.lncing mechanism lor the park ancl as a lool for conservation. In the ~Jl11e year, UN EP, with: ;J(' UNESCO World Hed\age Center, organizecl.ln I nternationa I \\'orbhop on the management of touri-rn in natural world heritage sites. Th..: Workshops recommendations have been widely circulated and IlJj"

, • 1

the two organizalion~ are jointly working on a manual for mJnagcr~ of natural world hentage sites.

50. In 199+, the Council of Europe adopted recommendations for ;u~l.lin,lbk tourism IhM cont.nn measures at the national, international, local and regionallcycl,.

51. The World Conference on Sustainable T ourisrn , which took place ill Lanzarote in Apl"il 199;, adopted the Charter for Sustainable Tourism, listing 18 points that arc esscnual for sustainable tourrsm. It established that tourism development would need to be conducted in the framework ul sustainable development, addressing the natural, cultural and human environments, It called for special ]lI'iorit\" 1I1 the matter of technical cooperation and financial aid to be given to environmentally and cultur allv vulnerable SpKCS.

52 _ More recently, in 1997, the International Conference of Environment Ministers on Biodrvcrsn y .ind Tourism, held in Berlin, Germany, attended by 1'1 countries and six orga.nizations, adopted the Berlin Declaration on .Biolog.ical Diversity and Sustainable Tourism, The Declaration brgeiy concentrates on five areas:

Sustainable tour-ism is a sensible usc of biologk<ll diver~ity" In order for sustainable tourism to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use oJ biological diversity, environmentally sound forms of tourism arc to be promoted;

The development of tourism needs to be controlled in order to ensure sustainability;

Particular attention needs to be paid to tourism in vulnerable areas, including protected arc as, coastal and mountain areas, and regions in which nature is partkularly diverse:

Not only countrres, but all stakeholders arc responsible for sustainable development, par ticularly the private sector, whose voluntary initiatives arc encouraged; and

Local communities are not only responsible for the sustainable development or tourism, Gut they can also gain particular benellts from tourism,

53. At the occasion of the Ministerial Roundtable on BiolOgical Diversity held during the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (0 the Convention (Bratislava, Slovakia, May 1998) J the Minist ... rs discussed the issue of tourism, It W;tS acknowledged that a substantial share of tourism stmngly depends upon and alTccts biological diveJ'~i\y, while on the other hand it was also recognized that sustainable tourism could playa role in poverty alleviation and conservation of biological diversity.

54-. A recent Workshop on MarinI! Biodiversity in the Caribbean; held in [amaica in October 1995, explored the relationslup between tourism and marine biodiverSity. A working group devoted to this issue concluded that the prcssul"e$ on marine biological diversitv from tourism require a series of measures, depending 011 the issue in question:

From a science, technology and research viewpoint, there is it need \0 improve the scientific baseline information on which to base policv decisions, and communication should be improved and maint a ined between researchers and resource users, including tourism;

There is a need for indicators able to assess the carr~'ing capacity of the system;

Tourism is not integritted enough in national planning, and stakeholder participation is limited.

The opposite situation would encourage iiHegration of conservation of marine biological div":T~ity uuo the tourism industrv' ~ long- term plJnning;

84

Kerul« - £l:l'larillg Future Frontiers ;/1 Tuurisn: Developtnettt

Education and public awareness is a major issue, along wilh the need for appropri:lte lcgi_'lativ~ measures; and

An important aspect is the use of market forces and economic instruments to stimulate !

environmentally responsible behaviour .

55. A lso in October 1998, the I nterna tional Conle renee on "Sus t aiuab]e Tour i srn in Sma II Island Developing States and Other I slands" was held in _Lai17¥ote, Canary Island s , Spain, Join tl y organized by UNEP and WTO. The Conference addressed the challenges of sustainable tourism in small islands and proposed recommendations include; (a) integration of tourism in the overall plan for sustainable development; (b) stakeholder involvement; (c) involvement of local communities , (d) adoption of alternative technologies; (e) promotion of codes of conduct and ecolabels tailor-made for small islands, and (I) establishment of environmental standards and regulations.

56. Furthermore, UNEP has drafted a set of guiding draft principles on sustainable tourism. Following the mandate given by the Governing Council in February 1999, UNEP will start a multi-stakeholder consultation process on these principles.

57. In addition, an initiative has been started in the Netherlands to develop an integrative approach for btodiversi ty-friendly tourism, focusing on tourists from the Nether lands with a destination abroad. It will take into account the whole chain of activities, such as information from travel agencies, decisions by public to book trips, effects of travelling, possible reductions of negative impacts of accommodation at the destinauon, and activities undertaken by tourists abroad. The initiative involves all relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors, following an tnternctive approach.

Endnote;'

, World Tourism Organization, Tourism Highlights 1997

2 Report of the Secretary General on tourism and sustainable development, Addendum: Tourism and economic development, Commission for Sustainable Development, 7,1, se ssion , January 1999 (advance unedited copy)

! Ibid.

+ Jefrrey McNeely, "Tourism and biodiversity: a natural partnership", presented at a symposium on Tourism and Biodiversity, Utrecht, 17 April 1997

I Report of the Secretary General on tourism and sustainable development, Addendum: Tourism and economic development, Commission for Sustainable Development, 7'" session, January 1999 (advance unedited copy)

6 Biodiversity and Tourism.Conflicts on the world's seacoasts arid strategies for their.solution, German Federal Agency for Nature and Conservation ed .• 1997.

1 Ibid.

85

, Ihid.

Report of the Secretary-General, Addendum, Sustainable tourism development in small island developing States, Commission 011 Sustainable Development, Fourth session. Unitl:d Nations, 19:16.

E/CN .17/1996/201 Add. 3).

1\1 Tourism, ecotourisrn, and protected areas, Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, IUCN. 1996.

11 Bio -di versit y and Tourism; C onl1icts on the world's seacoasts and stra tegit: s for their so t ution, German Federal Agency for N atur e and Co nservation cd., 1997.

11 for further elabor auon see Report of the Secretary-General on tourism and sustainable dcvclopm c nt , Addendum: Tourism and social development. Commission on Sustainable Development, Seventh session, United Nations, [anuarv 1999 (Advance unedited version)

I! Tourism and the Environment Case St~dies on Goa, India, and the Maldives. Kalida« Sawkar. LiBia Norobna, IlnLOnio A/"5carcnhas. O.S_ Chauhan. and Simad Saeed, Economic Developmaii lnstitute '!! the world Bank. 1998

1+ Economic Perspectives on Nature Tourism. Conservation and Development, Michael P. Wells. Pollution and El11'ironmeJll,,/ Economics Divisiot», rhe World Dank, 1997.

II MF Wells, 1997

I. Guidelines: Development of National P~rl.:.s and Protected areas for Tourism. II TO IlNEP-1U PAC Technical Report Series 13, 1992

S6

Keral« - Exploring Future Frontiers in TOllri3'111 Development

from

Sustainable Tourism: A Non- Governmental

Organisation Perspective

. ,

Background paper #4, UNCSD. NOO Steering Committee

B. INDUSTRY INITIATIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOUIUSM

Problems

DE CREASED A CCESS TO NA TU RA.L RESO U RCES fORTH E WCAL COM M UN /Tl ES AND E\'I'I RO N AI 1-:,\' TA.t DEGRADA TlO,\'

4, Tourism is not, as many people assert, a clean and non-polluting industry. A major problem is the lack of a common understanding of what sustainable tourism or "ecotourism" means. This ambiguity leads to violations of environmental regulations and .standards. Hence, the environmental problems evolving from tourism are manifold. First of all, the tourism .industrv is very resource and land in tensive , Consel:juen tI y, the interest of the tourism sector will often be in conflict with local resource and land use practices, The introduction of tourism will imply an increased stress on resources available. An int1ux of tourists into the area will lead to a competition for resources. Employees working at the tourist sites compound this competition. Almost as a rule, tourists. are supplied at the expen~e of the local population.

5. Tourist activities imply an intensified utilisation of vulnerable habitats. Investors and tourists do not necessarily possess awareness on how to use natural resources sustainably, and subsequently this utilisation often leads to a degradation of resources. Tourism is also a major generator of wastes, In most tourist regions of developing countries, sewage, wastewater and solid waste disposal are not properly ru anaged or planned. Lastly, tourism is also responsible for a considerable pro portion of increased volumes and mileage in global transport and hence the associated environmentally damaging pollutant emissions. The tourism industry has not shown suOldent willingness to (internalise or) compensate the cost of conservation of bio-diversity in, for instance, protected areas, even though they can profit from it.

INCREASING CULTURAL EROSION AND DJSRESPECT fOR HUMAN FJGHTS

6 . Tourism is a powerful agent of change. In te rn ational tourism acts as a catalyst for the transition from traditional ways of life to so-called modern, Western forms of society. Accordingly, tourism often brings with it the' introduction of new behaviour trends and norms. Very often, these are contrary to traditional norms existing in the host community, and can come into conflict with its cultural identity and threaten the traditional value systems there. The problem is that the investors seem to have a lack of cultural understanding of the invested society. There is a need for an increased awareness that establishment of new hotels etc will have its consel:juences on the society and the people who live in it.

7 . Tour ism has become associated with violation of human rights. Many destination countries have experienced an increase in criminality, prostitution, alcohol and drug abuse as a consequence of tourism. Further more, child labour is com rnonplace in the tourism industry (partieu larly in the i nf ormal sector).

~ 87

~

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€qualms

According to estimates nude bv [LO (International Labour Org.\ni~ation), bel ween 3 and 19 nullrcn children and teenager;; work in the tourism sector. A particularly abominable form ol violation of human rights is child slaver v and dc~picablc a buse of children taking pla(_'c in the booming sex industry \n many countries. In these counuics, tour ism has led to an incredible increase in prostitution and also in the exploitation uf children. The tourism industry has not yet come up with J general condemnation of these violauous of 1-.'-'J\lJll rights.

UNQUALIFIED JOBS ASD FOREIGN HCHAl\'GE LE_~K..iGE

S. The rourtsm indu~try is characterised by a high degree of monopoly, which implies a concentration of services and profits into very few big transnatlonal corporauens . .In many countries, tourism facilities mostly belong to foreigners. Furthermore, in local host communities in lUany countries a relatively small number of people are involved in the tourism industry in host communities in many developing countries. Very often. there is a lack of qualified manpower in the locality. Hence, most employcc s are recruited form the big cities, neighbouring countries or even from the country of origin of the investors.

9. Multiplier cffect" from tourism are less Significant than is often assumed. One reason is that tourism industries purchase most of their inputs (materials, products or services) in their country of origin. As a result, a considerable amount of foreign exchange revenues leaks from the destination countries Tile more goods, services, physical capital and human capital a country must import for its tourism scp'ccs, the higher the leakage, Very often the investors are not approaching the 10cJ.l community it 01 ctu a II , can provide. In addition to this, the General Ag.reement on Trade in Services (GATS), with its hberali-> non of global trade and services, is increJ.singl)' undermining the possibilities of individual countries .md regions to control their tourism industries and the possible economic gOl.ins from tourism.

DECREASED ACCESS TO NrlTUfUL RESOURCES I·DR Tl-IE LOf:AL COMAIUNilJES A""D ENV1RONME.' ,'iL DEGRADX/ )N

10. In _general, the tourism industry should engage in promoting sustainabilitv as a hallmark. ',W investors. More specifically. investors in tourism should strive to adopt environmentally :;:0 ,iI technolojjes or other measures to minimise the consumption of local ground water. In the case of w, "r utilisation, such measures might be water s<lving equipillent, desalinauon system:;: and collecting., d utilising. rainwater. Using other types of resources in a sustainable manner is, of course. also cr uc There is a need to use ,~cological materials and installation of renewable sources of enel'gy systems (s« r energy) in all new bUildings and new construction. Furthermore there should be an acceleration .1' installation or solar/wind power in all public work projects of communities where tourism will introduced. To prevent or minimise the impact of chemical inputs in soil, water and health, one shot, start utilising sound ecological methods, including IPM (Integrated Pest Mam,gement). Ecologj( methods need to be applied in all areas utilised for tourism, including in the maintenance of golf court gardens and recreational Iacihucs.

II. Pollution of ground and coastal waters must be prevented, aild recommendations must be macir (perhaps even legi$lalion) for tourism investors to' invest in proper sewOlge, treatment racilitic~, Appropriate waste disposal systems and wa~'s to separale garbage into organic and non-organic waste should be developed. Org.)nic waste can be composted and possibly reused Oil hotel g;l.rdens or even 1"01" 10c;;1l farming. This could be done through collaboration with local residents. Residents could org,\lli~e themselves and nunage the alloc .. ired 4ul1lpillg sites, and h~t1ct: bcnefn from the ~~'stCIll in receiving

88

Keralu - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourlsm Development

payment from the hotel [or services rendered. A system to sep~rJte the ditTerent materials, and recycle some should be in place at the landfill site, thus reducing the waste even further.

12. To avoid degradation of the natural environment, tourism projects can help finance protected areas and safeguard ecologically sensitive regions against further environmental deterioration. By empowering local populations and have them participating in the entire process, sustainability will be ensured as it becomes accepted by and adjusted to the local communities. Also, a protected area might certainly be a suitable tourist-attraction, where tourists can experience amazing nature and learn about conservation and traditional uses of natural resources in the area.

13. Investors in tourism should always respect. the traditional land tenure system in the area and the traditional user-right systems of resources. In regard to this, the communication and consultation with the local communities about resource-use is important. Tourism investors should not exclude local people from using local resources, and thus take away what they depend on for maintaining their well being. The tourism industry can and must take initiatives to implement that polluter(s) pay a prlnciplc (or other forms of internalisation of externalities) f9r pollution related to tourism operations. This may be organised and carried out through local tax systems or through funds established by the tourism industry for local community development. However, the paid principle should be applied for minor pollution only and should not be developed into a possibility for investors to pay a symbolic [ine for imposed irreversible negative impacts on the local environment.

14. Inaccura te and/or mild environmen tat legislation in destination countries may possihl y attract more foreign investors contributing to fast economic growth and development, but with environmental damage as a consequence. To avoid the dilemma, destination countries will have to choose between economic development and environmental rrotection international. Multinational enterprises must be committed to follow the environmental standards of their home country should these be stricter than those at the destinations.

INCREASlNG CULTURAL ER.OSION AND D1S1l.ESPECT FOR. HUMAN PJGHTS

15. The tourism industry should promote projects, which are compatible with the cultural identity of the local population's way of life. Furthermore, !he tourism sector should always make sure it acts in accordance with the cultural heritage, and respect the cultural integrity of tourism destinations. This might be accomplished by defining codes of conduct for the industry and hence providing investors with a checklist for sustainable tourism projects.

16. Establishing and developing tourist tr.uning programmes could be one way of managing codes of conducts for the tourists. Here, tourists can be informed and educated about the destination for their tra vel both before and after their arri val at the si te. At the site, tourist information cen ires can be established through funding from the investor. The information given to tourists should include codes of conduct regarding appropriate behaviour and clothing. It is reasonable to assume that people's oITending behavtour is largely a consequence of ignorance rather than intention. Consequently, information and facts about the destination. ways of life , history I cultural heritage is crudal to help tourists get along.

17. It is an absolute must that tourism investors de not engage in or promote child labour and prostitution. Moreo\'Cr. it is appropriate that the.industry commit themselves to a global campaign against such and any other violation of human rights. Evaluating the sustainabliitv of the tourism development, in regards to cultural and human rights aspects, is highly recommended for those responsible for the tourism projects. As w\th the case mentioned earlier of preventing environmental degradation, this must be carried out through communication and consultation with the local communities.

~

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Equations

89

UNQjiAUFifD JOBS .4,\·D FORDG.\' F\c! /.,J,SG{ fL!1(IGL'

18. By devi~ing local tr<lining progJ'amme;; and establishing educational projects, the tourism industrv can ensure that qualified 10c~1 people are employed in their projCC'l5. One should IJ"Jin the .ocal people instead of roreigner~ to become guide~ due \0 their knowledge or the area and resources. The 111\'e~lUr" should he responsive to the kind of knowledge, abilities and skills found in the iocal commuruues. V cry often such knowledge and skills are well fined to be used in tourist activities be it fishing trip" nature trails, souvenir sales or dancing courses for tourists etc.

19. To constrain ford~n exchange leakaqe, those responsible for the tourism projects should ensure that local inputs arc purchased for their projects. A proper examination of locn] resources available will he beneficial fOI' ho\h the industry and the local residents. U~ually, there is considerable lucal willingJlcs~ to start protlu,:ing new products if ;t marke t for these products ~_xiSlS, The tourism sector should JI~o adopt measures to prevent foreign exchange leilkage by a commitment to re-invcstmeru of a larr share of the locally accrued profit. We have already mentioned protected areas, training progrillllmCS Oil codes of conduct for tourists, or possible training 01" local employees, as project~ in need of funds: Initiatives towards more local community development projects should also b-e approj;riate_

10. The tourism industry should promote the estabhshmeut or small and medium-sized tourism enterprises which, compared to large-scale hotels ctc., have Iar more m oderat c impart s 011 the environment. It is the industry's responsibility to act as a model for communities to show that it Is possible to do business whilst protecting natural resources. The industry should also promote and Hlpport local commurutics to start tourtsrn-related businesses and g.-ant access to low interest loans. It is the responsibility of the tourism sector to ensure total transparency in all transacrions , and to prevent tourism projecls from being used as projecu for l<lundering illicit moncy, a, well as to refuse using bribes as a means to obfuscate or avoid government rules and regulations. There should be a global boycott Olgainst those investors invol ved in such or other types or illegal acuviues .

GENEPvlL RECOMMENDATIONS AND I'OSSIBLE SOI.UTlONS !lHICH CO,,'Cf.R_V.41.1. THREE PROB/,EM AREAS

]_ 1. Empowerment of residents ,"It tourist destinations, through Iocal participation, may be facilitated hy prOViding written and legally binding contracts between focal people and tourism invesiors. The contracts will help to avoid broken promises, which too many examples and previous experience prove to be a huge problem. In addition to the mentioned examples (pJ"ovidi~g proper information for tourists and establishing training programmes for residents), the tourism industry, through for instance the WTTC or the WTO with NGOs in the selection panels, could issue awards ~sp~cially for sustainable tourism projects as an encouragement for investors.

Agents (lml Partnership) til/, challge

12. In this section, the locus has been on what the tourism industry itself can do in order to augmcnt and improve its environmental, cultural, social and economic profile and make sure this is sustainable. However, I he ind llstry' s effor t cannot be successfu I withou t a profound collabora tion wi th <til stakeholders.

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Kera!« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill Tourism Development

23. Within the industry, i 1 is important that both small and large-scale tourism opel'ators arc included in the collaboration and that they participate in ~olvillg problems related to tourism development. As mentioned, a sustainable development of the tour ism industry can only be ensured through participation of all local residents in the destination countries. There is a need for a Willingness and ability for the partners to work with this kind of bottom-up approach. In this context, both environment and social N GOs have an im portan t role to play, pu tting pressure on the industry and facili ta ting con tracts and local participation for community development. Governments in both destination and countries of origin of tourists and investors are responsible for providing appropriate legislation for sustainable tourism development, and to follow up the tourism projects with sufllcient monitoring and appropriate sanctioning. Exchange of successful experiences 01 sustainable tourism projects is an important factor in tlu s conn eetion. Lastly, an interd isci pI inary approach to the problem is neces~ary: using local, regional an d / or in tern ational consul tative forums.

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The Perils of Social Development without Economic Growth: The Development Debacle of Kerala, India

Joseph Thamararnangalam

Bulletin for Concerned Asian Scholars Vol. 30 No.1 (1998)

" numbCl if i'!fluential e.xperts In ,};.: field cif lntcrnauonal derdopmcnr tCBard Kccala m a unique model of development because it has been able to achiere exceptional social Je.-eiopmem in wch areas as health, cducalion, and eren the demooraphic transition, despise loll' economic development and low per capita Income. JIlI'erting the model. however, IV~ find thac in sharp contrast to the experience of the niOh-growth economies cif AS/a social development in K~roJa has been accompanied by economic swgnation, if no' deceleration in growth. This paper explores the social. politico I. and cultural roots of thi) parade): and suOgests that economic staonation can be ,een to be inherent in the ve~y pattern ~ Kcrala's social, political Ilnd cultural development, In porticuto«, it draws attention to (i) a pum:fn of state, politics, and ,;oci<'~r that may hav« undermined the autonomy and rauonahtv d i!lstiWlions d civil ,ocie~I', and (2) a pattern if political and cultural discourse that may have undermined the basi,' if innol:ation, at lease in certain domains if society LInd culture.

The Malayalam speaking people of South India offer an example for the whole Earth. Extraordmarv efficiencies in the use of the Earth' s resources characterizes I sic} the lif O;!SI), [es of the 29 million ci tizcns of Kerala. FollOWing the Kerala leadership we can see our wa~' to prudent human behaviour maintaining high life quality through the twentv-Iirst century. -- -\ ...... M .Alexandcr '

The Kerala model of development has almost reached the end of its tether .The paradoxical phenomenon of rapid social development unaccompanied by corresponding gains in economic growth has been exhausting itself- K K. Geofl?/

~ -

Not one of my two sons or m~' brother's sons or my sistcrs sons has taken up the occupation of coconut-pickinq. In fact there is not a single family in our community (caste) which has a son in this OCClIJ>.l tion.

After all, climbing trees and picking coconuts requires hard physical work, not the game of tricking and hoodwinkiny, to which the new generation in Kerala has now become accustomed. --- An elderly coconut picker and a lifelong activist in the Communist PMty of India commenting on the severe shortage of coconut pickers. (Interview with the author, 199+).

• l am grJ.tcful to Michael Tharakan, T T Sreekumar , K. K. George, and the four anonymous readers and the editors of the Bulletin d Concerned /I,ian scholars for their belpful comments 011 an earlier dl'aft of this p.ll'er. I a l so wi~h to acknowledge the Shastri lndo-Canadian Insutute , the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. and .\{ount &lint Vincent University for their financial wpport for my resear-ch in Kerala over several years.

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Kerul« - Exploring Future Frontiers ill TOIlf6'/II Development

Ker ala is a relatively poor state in a poor country, lndia. Yet the people or Kera l a (hereafter called "Malavalces" since they are speakers of the ."'i~lilplilm language) ~ppear to .;;;-.)oy a better standard of living than people in any other Indian state and in the other low-income counrrre , ofthe world. (They may even be better 01T than people li\ing in particular areas of the United States, if we accept certain definitions of well-being and quality of-life.) It is not surprising that Kerala has been held up as a model for poor countries.

Scholarly interest in Kerala as a "model" appe~rs to have been triggered by the publication in 197; of a pioneering study on Kerala's path 10 development conducted by the Centre for Development studies(CDS]Thiruvanantbapurarn. Ker ala's capital city. Challenging the dismal picture of po\-erty in Kerala painted by Dandekar and Rath in their inl1uential report on povert)" in India, the authors of the CDS study pointed out thatkerala's people bad, in fact, achieved a relatively high degree of human development and quality of life despite low per capita income and consumption expenditure. Thev also suggested that this was the result of the pattern of development pursued in Kerala. '

The so-called "Kerala model of development" has become part of the broad global debate about development in the "third world" and it is studied by prominent experts in the Held of international development. particularly from the political left and by generally admiring researchers from Europe arid America (see resource list below). One admirer has gone so far as to recommend Kerala as a sustainable and Eco-friendly model for the whole world in the twenty first centur!·. It is ironic, however that in the 1990s the most enthusiastic admirers of the Kerala model have been based in the "first world," especially in the United States, while analysts and poliey makers in Kerala have been engaged in a soul-searching self-analysis and self-criticism that has often sunk into the depths of despondence and despair. For Kerala is in the throes of a major fiscal, economic. political. and cultural crisis that threatens not only its future development, but the very sustainabilrry of what has already been achieved. Nowhere was this more evident than at the International Conferences on Kerala Studies held in Kerala' s capital (Thiruvananthapuram) in 1994 ;uld in New Delhi in 1996. The major theme of both conferences was the crisis in Kerala' s de velopmen t. ~

Delivering the presidential address at the 1994 conference, which was organized at the initiative of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (hereafter CPM), the Party's nonagenarian leader E.M.S. Namboothiripad said:

I make a request: let not the praise that scholars shower on Kerala for its achievements divert attention from the intense economic crisis that we face. We are behind other states of India in respect of economic growth, and a solution to this crisis brooks no delay. We can ignore our backwardness in respect of employment and production only at our own

-16 pen.

And this comes from the most illustrious leader of a party that has a greater claim to be a patron (or even an arclu teet) of the Kerala model than any other Single organization, present or past. It is sigrtillcant that some of the organizers of the 1994 conference in Thiruvananthapurarn staled that "the fOC\!>, of discussion at the Congress was more on the contemporary crisis and the possible solutions rather than on the, much acclaimed achievements of the past. H7 It is important to ask whether ur not the perceived failures are inherent in the Kerala model. that is, are the patterns of social, political, and cultural development that have produced the quality of life in Kerala the same patterns that are responsible for the Failures? If they are, then uncritically recommending Keral a as a model for the rest of India. or for poor countries elsewhere, would, indeed. be a serious error.

93

This essay attempts 10 assess the achievements of Kerala, to examine the basic economic, social, political, and cultural facets of the model, and to delineate and critically examine the nature and causes

of the crisis the Ke rala model fAces! oday: I

KERALA'S ACHIEVEM E NTS

What has made Kerala unique is its exceptional achievements in social development and quality of life in spite of a relatively low level of economic development, Kerala's achievements are well known and well documented An excellent summary of Kerala's achievements has been provided by Richard Funke and Barbara Chasim, especially in their papular study &rala: Del'elopmcni thrQush Radical Riform.S Franke and Chasin compare Kerala with India as a whale, with low-Income countries elsewhere, and with the United States. They focus on per capita income and four of the most important indicators of social development: adult literacy, life expectancy, infant mortality, and birth rates. Predictably Kerala has low per capita income as measured by official statistics, but as regards the four social development indicators it is nat only far ahead of India and every other Indian state (including India's richest state, the Punjab), but it also stands out ;unong low-income countries of the world and is even on a par with some middle-income ~l;Iropean countries. ~

Significantly. Kerala's achievements are distributed relatively equally across urban-rural, male-female, and low caste-high caste populations. In this respect Kerala outshines the rest of India arid the rest of the world. Thus, for example, the male-female gap in literacy rates for Kerala in 1981-82 was 75-66 percent, as against 47·25 percent for India. Life expectancy for males (in 1981-82) was, in fact, lower than for females (64- years for males vs, 68 for females) tbe corresponding numbers for the rest of India ..,-e 57 and 56 yea.-s. More than one-half of Kerala 's low-caste population are literate (56 percent, while the national literacy rate (Kerala included) is only 21 percent. Kerala is the only state in India in which women out number men. This achievement, which the state has shown for a long time, is a result of the greater access that women have to food, education, and health care in the state.

Another feature of Kerala-hailed as "strildng· by Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen in their comparative study of hunger and public action-is the very low incidence of ":.evere under-nutrition". among children and adults in Kerala They find this "a matter of particular importance for health, well-being and survival," Only 1.5 percent of Kerala's children between the ages of one and five suffered from severe under-nutrition in 1982; in India as a whole the percentage was 6. I III

Recent comparisons provided by Sen are even more "strildng": the survival chances of men and women in Kerala are better than those of Blacb in the United Stan;s, and female literacy rates in Kerala are higher than those in every province in China. I I There are other indictors of Kerala's high <juality of life, some easily measured, others mare intangible.

Resource Miltedals on Kerala

See especially the popular book by Richard Franke and Barbara Chasin, Radicol Riform as Devdopnl:nt in on Indian Scate (San Francisco: Institute for Food and Development PolicyIFDP, 1989) and an updated edition entitled Kerola Development thrQu8hR"dicol R.!.form (New Delhi: Promila, 199+, in collaboration with IFDP, San Francisco).

William M Alexander, "Exceptional Kerala- Efficienl Llse of Resources. and Life Quality in ,\ NonAffluent Society," GAIA (EcQ/Q8icaJ p.:rspectil·e~i in Science, Humunitie~ and ECQnQmiCi.

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Keral« - Exploring FJ{lIIre Frontiers ill Tourism Development

K. K. George, Limits to the kera/a model: an ana/pis of.flsca/ crisis and its implications Thiruvanathapuram centre for Development Studies, 1993). Monograph series.

Robin JelTrey, Palitics, Women and Well Being: How Kuala Became a Model (~e1hi Oxford Uruversity Press 1992).

MA. Oomrneri.ed, " Essays on Ker;)la economy" New Delhi ,Oxford and IBH, 1993).

,

[ohn RatdilTe, "Social Justice and the Demographic Transition: Lessons from India's Kerala I state, 'lntemouonal journal if health services,S no, I [/97S: 123-144

Amactya Sen, "D.T Lakadawala Memorial Lecture" (New Delhi: Institute of Social Sciences), 1994.

Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen, Hunger and Public Action (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989)

A special issue <if Month/, Review. January 1991. was devoted to Kerala with a lead article by Franke mid Chasin and comments fro III Sarnir Amin and others

oSee also the special double ittuco j'&onomic and Politico! Week&- (Bombay) 3D, nos. 35 and 36(1990), devtlted to Kerala'sdeveioprnent experience

Enmples of the latter are Kera.la's high levels of soo.al mobilization and democratic participation, an exceptionally high readership of newspapers and magazines, a writers' cooperative that may be the world's first and most successful, and an equally pioneering and successful people's science movement. The most int311gible indicator of all, perhaps, is the new sense of dignity and self-worth that the formerly oppressed and humiliated sectors of its population possess. Il

In the context of the debate about third world development, Kerala's most striking achievement maybe that it has surpassed the expectations of demographers and has reached the wthird stage of the demographic transition" within two decades!!_ Kerala's fertility rates-adlieved without compulsion-c-are. now lower than those in China and countries in the "upper middle-income" bracket. 14

It is noteworthy that Kerala's achievements have been mutually reinforcing. Thus the demographic transition in Ker a la, so remarkable by third-world standards, becomes intelligible only when we understand the inl:a!lgible and mutually reinforcing consequences of such achievements as female literacy and education, general social mobdizauon and a high level of social consciousness, health and general social well-being.

HOW KERALA BECAME A MODEL: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

What historical processes have led to Kcrala's achievements? And what are the key economic, political, social, and cultural factors in the Kerala model of development? In this section I shall identify and analyze the major historical factors in the sections that follow I shall examine the major socio-economic and cultural dimensions of Kerala's development.

The Malayalanl-speaking nation of Kerala became a state in 1956 when most Indian states were reorganized on the basis of lallguage. The two princely slates of Travancore and Cochin and the .\\alabar district of the .r-.\.1dras Presidcncv of British India wen: combined to form Kcrala. At least some of the

95