Kerala tourism policy to focus on safety, quality

Thiruvananthapuram: Setting up of a Tourism Regulatory Authority to “to free the sector of all forms of exploitation” is the most radical measure outlined in the State Tourism Policy 2017. Also, in what is seen as an oblique admission that liquor availability is not a major requirement for tourism growth, the Policy states that the modern tourist comes to the state “not to wallow in luxury but to get a feel of the place”. "The fundamental thrust of the new policy is to improve the quality of tourism experience," tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said, after unveiling the Tourism Policy here on Friday. The policy, which gives emphasis on sustainable tourism, states that a carrying capacity study of all major tourism destinations in the state would be conducted "on an emergency basis".

There will be curbs on granting sanctions to new constructions, and also houseboat licenses. Mr Surendran said that the Authority would be formed soon, though its composition would be decided only after exhaustive consultations. The Policy grants sweeping powers to the Authority. “The Authority will function as the highest body that has the power to supervise all segments of the sector,” the policy states. It will have the power to strictly enforce the guidelines issued by the Tourism Department. The Authority will also function as a quasi-judicial body, offering timely relief to victims of host high-handedness or misbehaviour. 

“The Authority has been given the blanket power to intervene wherever condemnable tourism practices are reported,” the policy states. Further, the Authority will have under its command special action teams that will be formed in each tourism destination to take on human trafficking, child abuse, and narcotics use. The Policy has set a target of increasing the number of domestic tourists by 50 percent, and foreign tourists by 100 percent, in the next five years. The policy states that Responsible Tourism would be used as a tool to improve local employment. The tourism minister identified inadequate infrastructure as a major challenge.