In a landmark initiative to brand Kerala as a clean tourist destination the Tourism Department has decided to clean up nine major tourist spots in the state.
A resolution in this regard was passed at the concluding session of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) here on Sunday. The selected destinations are Kovalam, Varkala, Alappuzha, Munnar, Thekkady, Marine Drive, Fort Kochi, Wayanad and Kumarakom.
The campaign is being held by the Tourism Department, major players in the tourism sector with the participation of people in the respective regions. Under the programme it has been decided to clean these places by September 2013. The official inauguration of the campaign will be held on October 2 at Kovalam, said Rani George, Director, Kerala Tourism. She was speaking at the valedictory function of the KTM. Starting from October 2, road shows about the cleaning campaign will be held in 14 centres across the state, she added.
“The KTM 2012 has identified solid waste management as the major problem prevailing in the tourism sector of the state. As part of the responsible tourism programme we have decided to solve this program,” Rani said.
On the occasion Suman Billa, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said that the tourism industry in the state has grown because of the unique features in the state. We have to protect our identity in order to attain growth in the industry, he said. “This is for the first time that the tourism industry and the department have come together to clean up the major tourist destinations in the state. For the past several years the sector has been growing at a rate of around 50 per cent. In order to retain this growth rate we have to implement innovative ideas in the field,” he added.
Riyaz Ahamed, president, Kerala Travel Mart society, Jose Dominic, Abraham George, Sajeev Kurup, P R Aneesh, Jose Mathew and E M Najeeb also spoke.
The four-day-long Kerala Travel Mart concluded on Sunday. As many as 1,486 buyers- 398 international and 1,088 domestic buyers- participated in the meet. The next travel mart will be held in September 2014.
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