TARUN KUMAR
Thiruvananthapuram : In a big boost to Kerala’s globally-acclaimed Responsible Tourism initiative, the State Government has allocated Rs. 7,05,76, 797 for implementing various projects, ramping up local tourism activities with an added thrust on women empowerment.
These projects include RT Fest 2025-26 (Rs. 2,85,82,000), Responsible/ Resilient Tourism Destinations 2025-26 (Rs. 1,57,58,779), Participatory Tourism project (Rs. 93,77,718), Munnar Net Zero Destination project (Rs. 50,00,000), job-training for survivors of the Wayanad Mundakkai-Chooralmala natural disaster (Rs. 13,58,300), Experience Ethnic, Local Cuisine Network/ Kerala Agri-tourism network (Rs. 5 lakhs), Kerala Homestay and Rural Tourism Meet (Rs 1,00,00,000).
“This is one of the largest allocations for Responsible Tourism, which will impart a great thrust to sustainable and women-friendly tourism initiatives in the state. This will enable Kerala to make a further surge in attracting visitors as an experiential tourism hub”, Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas said.
The projects were submitted by the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society (KRTMS).
A total of 30 inhabitants of Mundakai-Chooralmala, who lost their livelihood and homes, during last year’s natural disaster will be trained by expert agencies in making handicrafts and souvenirs. The trained persons will be given financial aid to set up units for branding and marketing their products.
The implementation of these projects will cover diverse components such as experiential trekking packages connecting Agri Tourism and ethnic cuisine network, souvenir network project, developing a women-friendly tourism policy, formulating guidelines for women-friendly accommodation units, financial assistance to women enterprises, Fresh Up Homes project and conduct of gender audit in destinations.
As part of the RT project at Munnar, stakeholders’ meetings will be held, besides organising training programmes for auto-taxi drivers, local guides, putting up signages and boards, issuance of certification for hotels and resorts, maintaining the destination as plastic free, formulation of village-life experience packages, destination declaration and video documentation are the major initiatives for which the funds will be utilised.
