KOCHI: The Lithuanian delegation which visited Kumbalangi model tourism village is much impressed over the sustainable tourism project implemented in the village. The team visited the village as part of its plan to work with Kochi Corporation in three major sectors such as sustainable tourism, waste management and urban transport.
"The team is much excited about the micro-level planning and implementation of projects which they hailed as a role model for sustainable tourism project in an urban area," said Rajan Chedambath, director of Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-hed), Kochi Corporation. "They stayed at a homestay and saw for themselves village activities such as coir making, weaving coconut palm leaves and crab farming. Impressed by the local community's involvement and how the tourism model boosted the local economy, the Vilnius delegation has expressed interest to promote the Kumbalangi village as well as the Kerala tourism."
Director of Kerala Home Stay and Tourism Society (Kerala HATS) M.P. Sivadathan, who is from Kumbalangi, said the Vilnius team collected detailed information as to how the home stays are operating in a sustainable manner in the just five and half kilometre area in the island. "They have promised to send more visitors from their country to experience Kumbalangi tourism," he added.
