---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: timteam02 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 10:59 AM Subject: [timteamclearinghouse] Updates on Kerala toursim events To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear colleagues and friends, The Kerala tourism events last week can be considered as an important milestone in the Third World tourism debate as an alliance of local civic organizations and activists vigorously pointed out to participants of the Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Kochi the vast difference between theory and practice of `responsible tourism'. The Declaration of the official conference is posted at http://www.responsibletourism2008.org/keraladeclaration.php. In this Clearinghouse issue, we are sharing the People's Declaration on Tourism and a media release by Kerala Tourism Watch that highlight people's concerns about a wide range of tourism impacts and demands to government and tourism developers to phase out irresponsible tourism in Kerala. In addition, we have some press reports from the Hindu that covered well the Kerala tourism events. Yours truly, Anita Pleumarom Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team (tim-team) CONTENT: #1 Kerala Declaration on Irresponsible Tourism, 24 March 2008; #2 Media release on `Irresponsible Tourism Convention', Kerala Tourism Watch, 22 March 2008; #3 From The Hindu: A. Protest at tourism meet venue, 23 March 2008; B. Responsible tourism: Meet says more needs to be done, 25 March 2008 C. Stress on socio-economic uplift of local communities, 25 March 2008 D. Responsible Tourism: ensuring inclusive growth, 24 March 2008 ----------------------------------------- KERALA DECLARATION ON IRRESPONSIBLE TOURISM We the representatives of peoples movements of Fisher folk, of Tribals, of Dalit communities and of Civil Society Organizations, as deliberated in the Convention against Irresponsible Tourism at Ernakulam, Kerala, India, on March 22nd 2008, declare our strong opposition to the intentions of the Kerala Tourism Department and tourism industrial lobbies to project Kerala as a global destination of Responsible Tourism while repeatedly failing to address and resolve the enormous problems caused by indiscriminate tourism development in the state. We feel that the widely propagandized International Conference on Responsible Tourism that took place in Ernakulam, not surprisingly, failed to coherently address the real social, environmental and ethical impacts of tourism and did not seriously consider the concerns and anxieties of the local communities such as traditional fishers and indigenous people in the destinations. The conference in its very structures and deliberations was non-inclusive and remained inaccessible to majority of the real stakeholders and civil society organizations in Kerala. We strongly condemn government participation in such unilateral processes which are aimed to sanctify corporate irresponsibility in empty rhetoric and are clearly stage-managed to keep out the real victims of irresponsible tourism from debates, discussions and policy formulations. We ask: `To whom are the Government responsible and whose interests do the Government protect?' In this context we would also like to point out that many of the recent legislative interventions in the tourism sector in Kerala such as Kerala Tourism (Protection and Conservation of Areas) Act, 2005 appropriate important constitutional powers (bestowed through amendments 73 & 74 of Indian Constitution) of the Local Self Governments (LSG), jeopardize the decentralization process and hugely reduce the scope for local participation at the decision making and implementation levels of tourism projects. We take this opportunity to reiterate our demand for the withdrawal of such anti-people legislations. We strongly feel that the immediate responsibility of Kerala Tourism, hence, is to address and resolve the burning problems of the local communities who are displaced, disempowered and dispossessed from their livelihoods as a result of the unregulated and uncontrolled tourism activities in the state. We would like to make it clear that the local communities will not play their expected roles of suppliers and dependents (the idea latent in the euphemism of `economic responsibility') of the tourism industry. We wonder why the tourism lobby pretend to ignore the fact that Kerala has now become a net importer of its staple food rice and depends heavily on neighboring states for the everyday supplies of vegetables, meat, egg and milk. In this context Tourism in Kerala, in order to have a legitimate claim to any semblance of responsibility that it projects for itself should show its willingness to do the following with immediate effect: >1 Revoke the declaration that designates four destinations in Kerala as Special Tourism Zones (STZ) which legitimizes the economic exploitation of local community resources by the tourism lobbies. We have pointed out on several occasions that the policy deeply undermines the decentralization processes in the state and attempt to concentrate all powers in a state level, authoritarian, bureaucratic committee with no meaningful representation of local/ regional elected representatives. >2 Stop the endless violations of the Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) in the name of tourism development. We urge Kerala Tourism to abandon its lobbying for the dilution of the legally powerful CRZ by converting it into a toothless Coastal Zone Management Plan favoring the industry and harming the interests of coastal communities. >3 Tourism Department has been deviously attempting to divert the funds set apart for the rehabilitation of the victims of Tsunami for tourism development. We urge the department to desist from such deceitful activities. >4 Regulate the number of house boats plying the Vembanad Lake and in the vicinity of interior villages like Kumarakom. Adopt effective strategies to contain the contamination of drinking water and pollution caused by the house boats. Delimit the timings and routes of houseboats to reduce the most resented intrusion into the privacy of local inhabitants. The routes should be determined causing no hindrance to inland fishers and lime shell pickers whose families depend on their sole incomes from these traditional occupations. >5 Evolve meaningful strategies to involve the local community and peoples organizations in decision making, planning and implementation of programmes and projects in tourism destinations. Abandon the present approach of exclusion and neglect by forming people's committees creating a democratic space for communities to voice their concerns and intervene effectively to ameliorate the harmful impacts. >6 Periodic social auditing of all tourism projects and destinations should be done with the true participation of the various stake holders involved with special emphasis to the local community and organizations. >7 Stop the demeaning museumization of local cultures and art forms for tourist consumption violating the spiritual and aesthetic priorities and concerns of the local practitioners. Extend help and support for the conservation, preservation and promotion of traditional arts and crafts through institutionalized channels respecting customs, norms and value systems of local communities. >8 Stop the practice of initiating large scale tourism projects in protected forests and bio-diversity hot spots masqueraded as Eco-Tourism projects. >9 Restore the regulatory powers and responsibilities of the State Government and Local Self Government to control and contain unbridled tourism expansion programmes of the private sector. >10 Evolve credible institutional mechanisms for undertaking the social and economic cost–benefit analysis of government spending in tourism and tourism aiding projects to assess the claims regarding the gains in terms of revenue to the government and benefits to the local community and various other stake holders. >11 Regulate the burgeoning medical tourism sector in the state responsible for the proliferation of Ayurvedic massage centers which systematically promotes sex tourism, encourages pedophile activities and eroticizes tourism related service sector jobs. Regulate home-stays and help create awareness regarding its social implications. >12 The attempt to construct an Artificial Reef in Kovalam in the name of tourism should be stopped since it would destroy the livelihood options of scores of fish workers and may cause irreversible damages to the natural ecosystems of the near by coastal villages. >13 Restrict entry for tourists to ecologically sensitive zone of The Periyar Tiger Reserve, one of the very few existing homes of the Indian Tiger, a species facing extinction. Take effective steps to contain genetic robbery and constitute a Special Task Force to monitor and control tourist activities in the project areas. >14 Stop the move to transfer land taken away from local communities in the name of development (such as land for the air port in Nedumbassery) for Golf Tourism, an activity that does not suite our environs and clearly causes extensive ground water depletion and environmental destruction. >15 At a time when Kerala is facing acute shortages of rice and vegetables, stop encouraging conversion of paddy fields and reclamation of backwaters for tourism activities. >16 The illegal occupation and fencing off of backwater and coastal areas by the Hotel industry is continuing unabated and immediate steps should taken to stop this practice facilitated by unethical bureaucratic connivance. Government should evict the illegal occupants and restore its communal ownership. >17 Construction of tourism resorts in backwaters in river banks areas should not be allowed. Existing resorts should be made accountable for the discharge of waste into these waters according to polluter pay principle and making it mandatory for them to use eco-friendly waste management and processing systems like bio gas. >18 Take immediate legislative measures to restrict indirect foreign investments in landed properties for tourism resort construction through surrogate land speculators. >19 Revoke The Kerala Local Authorities Entertainments Tax (Amendment) Bill 2007 which purports to take away the powers of the Local Self Governments to fix and collect tax from tourism related entertainment industries like Water Theme Parks >20 Constitute a Peoples Commission with meaningful representation of all stake holders and active participation of civil society movements to help uncover the real facts about Kerala Tourism. The policy of the government should be to help improve the basic living conditions of people and protect their livelihood options. The current policies in the tourism sector are set to promote the interests of capital and an elite minority who benefits from the global neo liberal economic order. There are numerous examples before us to corroborate this position. The most recent example in Kerala is the aborted move by the Government to forcibly evict the illegal occupation of government land and forest land in the hills in Munnar, by the tourism industry. We strongly believe that the Government should not be cowed down by the sheer economic might and political clout of the tourism lobby in the state. We are not asking for any favor from the Tourism Department or the Tourism Industry. The demands we raise are the legitimate rights of every responsible citizen in the state. We would also like to make it clear that caricaturing our position as anti-tourists' is a way far from the truth. Our opposition is directed against the harmful consequences of irresponsible tourism that hampers the interests of local communities, displace, dispossess and disempower marginalized groups, compromise human rights, disregard principles of fair living and violate the privacy and moral economy of the people in the destinations. For Various Peoples Movements: Chair Person : Justice K.P.Radha Krishna Menon Moderator : C.R.Neelakandan Kerala Tourism Watch : Geo Jose Solidarity Youth Movement : S.M.Sainudeen Coastal Fisher Women Forum : Magline Peter K.C.Y.M : Sony Pavelil Ecological end Cultural Collective : T.K.Sudeer Kumar Kerala Congress Secular : M.N.Giri Independent Fish Workers Union : V.D.Satheesan Equations : Saroop Roy Anweshi : K.Ajitha Kabani : Sumesh Mangalassery Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi : Purushan Eloor PUCL : Jacob Lasser Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi : Sreekumar (EKM) Keraleeyam, Thrissur : K.J.Robin Forum Kerala: Anivar Aravind Rajagiri School of Social Sciences, Ernakulum : Fr.Prasanth ------------------------------------ Forwarded by Kerala Tourism Watch, 22 March 2008 MEDIA RELEASE ON `IRRESPONSIBLE TOURISM CONVENTION' Kochi: 22/03/2008: Civil society organizations and representatives of people's movements from various parts of Kerala, India organized a protest march against Kerala's irresponsible tourism practices and held a parallel people's Convention at Achuthamenon Hall, Eranakulam on `Irresponsible Tourism' under the banner of Kerala Tourism Watch. They made their strong protest against the irresponsible practices of Kerala Tourism. The groups made their reservations against the non participatory nature of the present Responsible Tourism initiative of Kerala Tourism. This convention was a response to the International Conference on Responsible Tourism held on 21st – 24th at Le Meridien in Kochi organized by Kerala Tourism and International Centre for Responsible Tourism- India. Geo Jose made an introductory speech and welcomed the gathering. "Real Stakeholders distanced from Responsible Tourism" Justice K.P.Radha Krishna Menon inaugurated the Convention. In his speech he pointed out that "five Star International Responsible Tourism conference in Kochi without involving real stake holders and common people will only come out with decisions favoring big players". Kerala Tourism branding itself as Responsible Tourism is just a marketing gimmick while it is not making any attempt to ameliorate the damages created by its own harmful and irresponsible tourism practices. He reminded the Government that irresponsibility can never become responsible if it is given official sanction by the bureaucrats. Civil society and judiciary can act against this since this is a clear violation of the Constitution. C.R Neelakandan a noted environmentalist and social activist who was moderating the technical session pointed out the fact that the tax revenue collected from tourism by the state government is less than the budgetary allocation made for tourism. He stressed the need for a periodical social auditing of tourism development in the state. "Department of Tourism producing baseless statistics of Growth" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sri.Saroop Roy (Equations, Bangalore) said that the role of Local Self Governments (LSG) is curtailed by an act passed by Kerala Legislative assembly called Kerala Tourism (Conservation and preservation of areas) act 2005.According to the act the role of the LSGs is limited to looking in to whether the decisions made by a high level bureaucratic committee is followed in their jurisdiction. Equations pointed out that Tourism industry and department of tourism are producing baseless statistics and growth rate for getting more fund allocation and benefits for tourism industry. Sri.Sumesh Mangalassery (KABANI – the other direction) said that the recent activity of Kerala Tourism shows that there are no fundamental changes in the way department is developing tourism within the state. He pointed out that while sidelining social and environment responsibility and giving importance to economic responsibility the role of the local people is just limited as suppliers of vegetables. The proposed construction of an artificial reef in Kovalam with Tsunami Rehabilitation Fund was not consulted with the Destination Level Responsible Tourism Committee formed under the Responsible Tourism initiative. Then what is the rationale of such committees he asked. "Responsible tourism- a Globalization Agenda" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Magline Peter from the Coastal Fisherwomen Forum said that there is no space for local communities especially the marginalized for voicing their concerns over tourism projects and to be involved in the planning process. Sainudheen, President of Solidarity Youth Movement pointed out that Responsible Tourism initiative is part of the globalization agenda. The speakers representing various organizations, civil society and people's movements such as M.N.Giri (Kerala Congress Secular), Sreekumar (Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi) Yesudas Varapuzha (Periyar Malineekarana Samithi), Robin (Keraleeyam), Elias, Gopinathan (KSSP), P.L.John Kutty, Fr. Prasanth spoke on the occasion and raised their concerns regarding the noe-liberal economic paradigm that underlies Kerala Tourism's responsible tourism initiative. They emphasized that the initiative yet another move to cover up the growing maladies of Kerala Tourism such as child sex, marginalization and Displacement of the poor, destruction of people's livelihood in the name of tourism development and eroticization and feminization of women's work. Representatives of 15 organisations and many individuals attended the conference and cautioned Kerala Tourism for more protests if government is not addressing the concerns of affected people.A draft Kerala Civil society declaration on responsible tourism presented in the convention and will be released on 24th thorugh a media conference at Eranakulam. Protest March to the Venue of International Responsible Tourism Conference --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earlier in the day local community leaders and civil society activists marched to the venue of the International Responsible Tourism Conference protesting it elitist agenda, complicity in propagating neo-liberal commercial tourism and non-inclusive character. Scores of people participated in the march braving heavy rains. They raised slogans against the indifference and apathy of Kerala's Tourism Department towards the victims of tourism and condemned its joint ventures with pro-industry International Organizations like ICRT. The peaceful and nonviolent protest was blocked by the police close to the venue (Hotel Le Meridien). ================================================== http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/23/stories/2008032358580300.htm The Hindu, 23 Mar 2008 PROTEST AT TOURISM MEET VENUE Staff Reporter KOCHI: Several activists on Saturday held a protest in front of the venue of the conference on responsible tourism organised by the Tourism Department terming it as an event supporting 'irresponsible tourism.' The police blocked the activists from entering Hotel Le Meridien, the venue of the programme. Later, they held a convention attended by members of various social and environmental groups in the State. Inaugurating the convention, K.P. Radhakrishna Menon, former Ombudsman for Local Bodies, said he was against tourism projects that cater to the interests of a very few people. He said tourism was needed to promote the culture of the nation. But it should not be done by causing harm to the common man, he said. Speakers at the convention said the latest initiative of Kerala Tourism was not participatory, as it denied an opportunity for local communities to express their views. The present discussions were not addressing the concerns of affected population which needed urgent and immediate actions to stop the damages of tourism caused to them, they said. They said the government had made some initial efforts to address some of the ill affects of tourism in the State. The demolitions of a lot of illegally built hotels and resorts in Munnar were a step in this direction. However, this issue was not on the agenda of the conference, and the demolition drive was shelved despite the fact that there were still illegal constructions not only in Munnar but also in many other parts of the State, they said. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/03/25/stories/2008032551002300.htm The Hindu, 25 Mar 2008 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM: MEET SAYS MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE Lays stress on the need to cut carbon pollution The delegates called upon those involved in the Responsible Tourism movement to share their experiences of what works and what doesn't. Our Bureau Kochi, March 24 - The four-day Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations concluded here on Monday with the call to challenge and expose stakeholders in the sector who pay lip-service to responsible-tourism practices. This was among the points raised in the Kerala Declaration on Responsible Tourism which was released here. The delegates from 29 countries were of the view that five-and-a-half years since the first conference in Cape Town, the travel and tourism industry has not made satisfactory progress in abiding by responsible-tourism practices, so as to achieve sustainable development. The delegates called upon those involved in the Responsible Tourism movement to share their experiences of what works and what doesn't, to redouble their efforts to use tourism to make better places for people to live in. They affirmed to commit themselves to work with others and take responsibility for achieving the economic, social and environmental components of responsible and sustainable tourism. Stress has been laid on the robust and transparent financial management of destinations, to empower the local community and ensure that the earnings are distributed equitably within the community. The conference emphasised the need to reduce carbon pollution from the tourism industry. The Governments, tourism businesses, airlines, other forms of transport and consumers must prioritise carbon reduction, reduce the usage of fossil fuels, increase energy efficiency and use renewable energy. In determining who are the responsible tourists and what are the responsible forms of tourism, the Kerala declaration stressed the need to rely more on the measurement of impacts rather than the self-declared motivations of the travellers or the companies concerned. Recognising the role of government in leading an open and inclusive multi-stakeholder process to ensure economic and social development whilst conserving the environment. http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/25/stories/2008032554120500.htm The Hindu, 25 March 2008 KERALA DECLARATION ON RESPONSIBLE TOURISM – STRESS ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC UPLIFT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES Call to share tourism earnings equitably Plea to reduce use of fossil fuels By John L. Paul KOCHI: The Kerala Declaration on Responsible Tourism has exhorted people to delve deeper into claims on responsible and eco-friendly practices adopted by tourism stakeholders, rather than rely on statements made by travellers and the companies concerned. The Declaration was drafted here on Monday, the concluding day of the four-day long Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism. The appeal comes in the wake of complaints that a good share of proposals in the Cape Town Declaration of 2002 had not been implemented in many destinations. The delegates declared their commitment to achieving the economic, social and environmental components of responsible and sustainable tourism. The declaration called upon investors in tourism to operate in an ecologically and environmentally sustainable manner and promote conservation and biodiversity during the planning, development and operation of tourism ventures. It appealed to stakeholders to adopt a responsible approach in identifying, managing and harvesting natural resources in tourism destinations. They should recognise how tourism contributes to climate change. Global concern It observed that there was global consensus among scientists and others that greenhouse gases were contributing to climate change, which had serious impacts on the environment. The negative impacts fall disproportionately on the poor in developing countries. Most communities face increasing water scarcity, problems associated with waste generation and management, energy and fuel constraints, apart from biodiversity loss. The Kerala Declaration noted that there should be more focus on business planning and administration, consumer-orientated products development, quality, co-operation with the commercial sector, communication, sales channels, marketing and management of the interaction between tourists and local people. Communities and individuals should be empowered to realise a fair price for their goods and services and should have a say in determining how tourism was developed in their community. The private sector and the government should consider providing marketing support to micro and small enterprises. Care should be taken to ensure that communities do not suffer a disproportionate risk, given their vulnerability. Opportunities should be created to employ people with disabilities. Tourism should be included in the primary curriculum. As many as 503 delegates from 29 countries participated in the meet organised by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism – India, Kerala Tourism and India Tourism. ---------------------------------------- http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/24/stories/2008032459551100.htm The Hindu, 24 March 2008 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM: ENSURING INCLUSIVE GROWTH Ethical tourism trend not mirrored by industry: WTM chairman By S. Anil Radhakrishnan KOCHI: Kerala needs to work out tourism products in conjunction with private stake-holders and local communities to meet the challenges ahead, says Fiona Jeffrey, chairman of the World Travel Market (WTM), a four-day international event held annually in London for those in the travel business. Ms. Jeffrey, who is here to attend the ongoing Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations, told The Hindu that the State should ensure that God's Own Country was not a victim of negative aspects of tourism. "Look at what happened in other destinations like the coast of Spain twenty five years ago. All those associated with tourism should open their eyes and learn from both the good and the bad. Economic benefits to the local communities and positive infrastructure development is what the State should look forward to from the tourism sector," said Ms. Jeffrey a strong advocate of Responsible Tourism at the WTM for the last 14 years. The WTM chairman cautioned Tourism authorities in the State to ensure proper management of unique tourism products such as houseboats, beaches and backwaters. Kerala had been an unknown destination in several countries till a few years ago. Aggressive marketing and creation of unique tourism products by the government and the private stake-holders had made it a key destination globally. In the last five years, Kerala had overtaken Goa to become the most sought-after tourist destination in the U.K. She said the second WTM World Responsible Tourism Day will be observed on November 12 this year in connection with the WTM, which is being held from November 10 to 14. "This year, the focus will be on giving guidance to make tour operators, airline officials, hoteliers and others associated with the industry more responsible," she said. The WTM already had a website and a publication, `Spotlight,' dedicated to Responsible Tourism to pursue the agenda. The WTM spreads best practices, run educational workshops, and addresses key industry issues like carbon offsetting, destination development and poverty alleviation through tourism. Ms. Jeffrey said the people should tailor Responsible Tourism according to their local needs and environment. "At present, the people understand the principle of Responsible Tourism. But, they do not know how to deal with issues like waste management. The challenge is huge and more knowledge and technical expertise is needed," she said. "We need people to embrace the industry and guide us on Responsible Tourism, technology development for energy conservation and management and better water management." Rather than the government coming up with legislations, it will be good for the businesses to lead the way, Ms. Jeffrey who started the WaterAid charity on behalf of the international industry ten years ago, said. ----------------------------------------------- NOTE: The articles introduced in this Clearinghouse do not necessarily represent the views of the Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team (tim-team). --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
