Indian State Kerala’s Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran launched the “clean Kerala initiative,” piloted by responsible tourism mission with the co-operation of the stakeholders in the tourism sector in Thiruvananthapuram.
Kovalam, Munnar, Alappuzha, Kumarakom, Wayanad, Fort Kochi, Kollam, Thekkady, and Bakel are the nine destinations that have been identified for implementation of the new project in the first phase from a list of 21 destinations.
The project will take these tourist centres to green certification platform by making them the focus on eco-friendly and responsible tourism activities.
“Around 15,515 units are functioning as part of responsible tourism (RT) Mission. The government targets to create around 50,000 more units in the next phase. From 2008 to the next 10 years there were only 198 RT units, and it has increased significantly in less than two years,” the minister said.
Kerala Tourism Secretary Rani George said meetings will be conducted in major destinations by her, along with the Tourism Director to make the nine tourism centres plastic and garbage-free implementation. “Some are doing individual activities in places like Kovalam and Fort Kochi, but we have to institutionalize them with the association of government, industry, and local self-governing bodies.”
Kerala Tourism director P Bala Kiran said a strong initiative is needed for the waste management system. “Apart from the waste management system, world-class toilets and drinking water facilities will be set up in 15 destinations. They will be maintained by private firms.”
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