Responsible Tourism
Responsible Tourism is a new initiative of the Govt of Kerala addressing the social, cultural and economical responsibilities of the tourism sector. The aim is to benefit the local community by clubbing the traditional, agricultural and industrial sector with the tourism industry. The stake holders of this concept includes all tourism industry partners viz, (hoteliers, restaurant operators, tour operators, travel agents, home-stay operators, souvenir shop owners, various agencies offering tourism products etc) , representatives from local self governments, people’s representatives, NGOs / CSOs, government officials, academicians, media etc. The responsible tourism is implemented in the district of Wayanad, and in the tourist destinations of Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kumarakom in Kottayam & Kumily in Idukki district.
Role of Kudumbashree
Kudumbashree, one of the stake holders of Responsible Tourism, gives thrust to local economic development by exploiting every potential for micro enterprise led income generation. Experiences and studies reflect that the problems faced by the women entrepreneurs are lack of market and lack of awareness about scientific and advanced production methods. The Responsible Tourism initiative gives local entrepreneurs an assured market.
The daily demand of vegetables, fruits, livestock products and other items that could be produced locally and supplied to the service industries like hotels, resorts and similar organizations in the responsible tourism areas are analyzed and an understanding between the service sectors and Kudumbashree would be made to ensure timely supply of demanded items in coordination with the tourism department.
The items that could be produced, collected and supplied to the service sectors would be decided in consultation with the concerned grama panchayat & CDS representatives. The coordination of different departments like agriculture, veterinary etc would be sought out for scientific production of demanded items. Based on the total demand the area required to cultivate the vegetables & fruits and the no of activity groups required to engage the production of the mentioned items as well production of live stock products etc would be identified.
Objectives
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To utilize land for staggered cultivation of vegetables and fruits as per the demand of the service industries in the responsible tourism destination areas. |
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To give the poor women more employment generation days. |
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Increase the income of poor women engaged in micro enterprises. |
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To improve the procurement, production and marketing mechanisms. |
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To encourage organic farming as well as scientific production of vegetables, fruits and other products. |
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To ensure timely supply of demanded products. |
Activities involved
Analyses of items that could be produced locally
The total demand of the hoteliers, resorts etc would be analyzed and the items that could be produced locally and that could be collected locally would be assessed.
Identification of activity groups
The total land required to cultivate the demanded vegetables and fruits would be assessed. With the help of the grama panchayat representatives and CDSs the land would be identified for cultivation. Based on the requirement the activity groups would be formed for the cultivation of vegetables & fruits, for the production of livestock products and for procuring & supplying the demanded items on time.
Training
Training for activity groups are conducted in the fields of skill up gradation, accounting, scientific production, management and marketing of products as well as in group dynamics. For the purpose, Kudumbashree is making efforts to make tie ups with various training institutes who are engaged in this field as well. Also the other departments especially agriculture, veterinary department services would be solicited for the scientific production of demanded products.
Procurement & marketing
Activity groups would be engaged in the procurement and marketing of demanded products. Each destination area would have its own strategies for the mentioned action. The strategies would be made in consultation with the concerned panchayat representatives and CDSs.
