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The four day International Conference on Responsible Tourism concluded with the signing of the Kerala Declaration today. The Conference drew a crowd of 503 delegates and speakers from 29 countries.

Hoteliers, tour operators, government agencies, NGOs, academia, media, industry and local government from the State, National and International arena shared their expertise and knowledge to take forward the agenda to ensure that more responsible and sustainable tourism practices are adopted around the world.

Earlier inaugurating the event, Minister for Home, Vigilance and Tourism Shri Kodiyeri Balakrishnan iterated that his vision is to create a broad consensus on adoption of
responsible tourism practices by all stakeholders.“Opportunities should be shared with the local people. We should join hands with Local-Self-Government bodies like the Panchayat to create durable institutions that will take the Responsible Tourism agenda forward. Women’s self-help-groups like Kudumbasree are testimony as to how tourism can be used as a platform for local economic development”.

Dr. Venu V., Secretary of Kerala Tourism said “responsible tourism practices are crucial for us given the increase in tourism numbers to Kerala. The efforts of Kerala to involve a participatory, sustainable initiative providing linkages between the local communities and tourism businesses have been strengthened by the insights we have received at the Conference”.True to the theme and commitment of the conference, speakers and delegates paid to attend the conference including registration fees, travel expenses and accommodation to ensure that the host State does not carry the full financial burden. The Conference organizers absorbed the cost for State Level and District Level Responsible Tourism Committees and District Tourism Promotion Councils so that they could gain valuable insights from the international presenters and case studies showcased. Fiona Jeffery, Chairman - World Travel Mart said that she was happy to demonstrate her commitment to this important issue by attending as a paid speaker.

The case studies presented at the Conference demonstrated that responsible tourism practices were being adopted in different context, delivering innovative solutions based on a community led approach. There was immense scope for all businesses to be more responsible and this should be a priority issue for all stakeholders.

A total of 63 speakers presented at 7 sessions spread over the four day Conference attended by 503 registered delegates from 29 countries including India.

Speakers at the inaugural session included:

• Prof. Harold Goodwin, Director, ICRT, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
• Dr. Harsh Varma, Director-Development Assistance, UNWTO
• Ms. Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market
• Mr. Hiran Cooray, PATA Secretary and Treasurer
• Mr. E.M Najeeb, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society
• Mr. Mandip Singh Soin, President, Ecotourism Society of India
• Mr. Abama Bah, Chair, Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism Gambia

The Conference programme included the following sessions:

• Academic Conference on 21st March where papers on various aspects relating to Responsible Tourism were presented
• The second day (22nd March) of the Conference focused on global perspectives on the responsible tourism movement, experiences from destinations as well as thematic presentations and interactions on rural tourism.
• The third day (23rd March) featured case studies from Indian destinations, session on ‘the Kerala experience’ and site visits
• The fourth-day concluded with the proclamation of the Kerala Declaration on Responsible Tourism

Around 400 delegates and international speakers will get together in Kochi from March 21 to March 24 at the Le Meridien International Convention Centre to learn about the latest developments and practices in Responsible Tourism.

Speakers from over 20 countries including the UK, Germany, Gambia, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will discuss wide-ranging topics like local economic development and poverty reduction, taking responsibility for destination sustainability, travel philanthropy and the role of government – national and local.

Minister for Tourism- Kerala, Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan says the choice of Kerala as the venue is a tribute to the State’s Responsible Tourism initiatives. “Kerala has successfully implemented Responsible Tourism practices and is home to several working models of Responsible Tourism practices, contributing to enriching the environment and the local community. I envisage future developments in Kerala taking the responsible path”.

This second international conference on ‘Responsible Tourism in Destinations’ is designed to create awareness amongst operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists to take responsibility and action to make tourism more sustainable. Concerns of those in the tourism industry with regards to the relatively new idea of responsible travel and responsible tourism will be answered by experts who have already implemented many of these new concepts.

Dr. Venu V., Secretary, Kerala Tourism says the conference will provide an excellent opportunity for participants to learn about what has been achieved worldwide in Responsible Tourism and how to move the agenda forward in Kerala. “It will help us keep pace with international trends towards best practices and at the same time, gain market advantage. We have clinched participation from prominent international personalities including Dr. Harsh Varma, Director of Development Assistance-UNWTO, Ms. Fiona Jeffrey, Chairman- World Travel Mart, Mr. Renton de Alwis, Chairman-Sri Lanka Tourism Board and Mr. Hiran Cooray, Secretary and Treasurer of PATA, amongst others”.

Delegates will get the chance to visit various sites in Kerala including homestays, heritage precincts, farms and local entrepreneurs as models of responsible tourism practices. Kumbalangi, Fort Kochi, Kumarakom and Mattancherry are some of the places that will be showcased. Operators in the Kerala tourism sector will also share their experiences in making the State a Responsible Tourism destination.

The Conference will be co-chaired by Dr. Venu V., Secretary, Kerala Tourism and Prof Harold Goodwin, Director International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) at Leeds Metropolitan University.
Responsible Tourism in its purest sense is an industry which attempts to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems. It is an industry that is both ecologically and culturally sensitive.

This conference is a follow up from the first Responsible Tourism Conference held in Capetown, South Africa in 2002. It is organised by Kerala Tourism and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (India) with India Tourism as partner.

Would you like to visit a place that retains its rich cultural and environmental heritages? A place where you can live alongside Tibetan families or wander into the high desert? How about a yak ride through the mountains and visits to ancient Buddhist monasteries? And most importantly, what would it be like to engage in these activities with the knowledge that your stay has a positive impact on the community that you visit?!

Visit the Spiti Valley in the Indian Himalayas and allow Ecosphere to host you. Ecosphere focuses on reestablishing the link between the native custodians of Spiti’s resources and the consumer. Through a product line that includes travel, organics, and health, Ecosphere aims to create sustainable livelihoods that are linked to conservation. For example, one of Ecosphere’s trips called Exploring the Trans-Himalayan Desert initiates visitors through homestays with local Spitian families where you might enjoy tasty local momos while reducing your environmental impact by using traditional dry toilets. A five day trek ensues that might include glimpses of Blue Sheep and the oldest temple in the area as well as lunch at the high mountain Dhankhar Lake. One your final day, you are treated to a chance to wander about this area abounding with Buddhist monasteries and sample the “Wonder Berry” Seabuckthorn products harvested and processed by local women.

To promote its core philosophy of enabling culture and nature conservation, Ecosphere sets aside 5% of all income generated from the travel products for conservation-based activities. With Spiti undergoing a transition phase it is imperative that efforts are made now to preserve the traditional practices and livelihoods. Ecosphere is a small attempt to bridge the gap between the traditional and the modern, to ensure the development of sustainable livelihoods for the inhabitants of this unique cultural and ecological microcosm.

The Watershed Organisation Trust’s (WOTR) objective is to find ways to yield more sustainable livelihood opportunities through rural-tourism and other responsible tourism activities with protection of the natural and cultural resource base.

Kohane village comprises of 778 odd residents. Their main occupation is agriculture / farming. They have their own unique way of celebrating festivities and are proud of their tribal culture. Their value system inculcated within, talks about being close to Mother Nature.

Inviting visitors to their villages is a way to not only help the local economy and contribute to raising funds for cultural and conservation activities, but also to raise community esteem for these assets.

Tribal culture can often lose its meaning to tourism; the sacredness of many rituals and dances are abused for the consumption of tourists and religious festivals are made more ostentatious to impress outsiders.

WOTR aims to strengthen transparent and democratic decision-making and co-operation in and between the villages, and aim to foster cross-cultural understanding by facilitating discussions between locals and outside visitors. The very presence of tourists is an affirmation for local people that their older tribal culture is of value, and worth preserving.

You arrive at your chosen destination and approach the place you’ll call “home”. Immediately, you’re greeted by the local host who takes you on a quick tour of the facility and finally to your mud house/tent - a spacious, one-room cabin amongst the indigenous foliage. The room has been constructed out of a mixture of local and recyclable materials with a minimal impact on the environment.

There are solar powered lights, composting toilet and the solar lamps just outside your room. During your stay, you dine on meals made with fresh local ingredients. In fact, one day you can spend some time working in the garden, gathering vegetables for the evening meal. Each day brings a new and rewarding experience, whether it’s trekking, traveling or studying the various flora and fauna of the ecosystems nearby.