RT in Kumarakom yet to make strides

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Responsible Tourism (RT), which was introduced with much fanfare in Kumarakom and planned to introduce in 15 more spots in Kerala, is now in a negative growth. RT was implemented with the support of the local people which helps the local produce to be sold at that area. Though it was implemented in Kumarakom, lack of coordination resulted in the project losing its focus.Tourism director Rani George said that the produce from Kumarakom was not able to be supplied to hotels.  There was a shift from the focus which resulted in locally-made products not marketed properly. “Tourism Department is on the effort to regain RT in Kumarakom with the help of the local body and Kudumbasree units. All local produces will be marketed to those institutions engaged in tourismbusiness,’’ she said. According to Kumarakom grama panchayat president Dhanya Sabu,  RT was not able to be implemented during the local body elections. There was no proper coordination at THAT time, but it is now more effective and being implemented properly. “Vegetables and curry powders produced by Kudumbasree units are now being sold to the hotels.  A hotel run by 10 women of Kudumbasree units has been started as part of the RT initiative’’, she said. Vijayakumar, principal, Kerala Institute Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), which is the nodal agency of implementing RT,  said that government and other agencies are only facilitators of the project. The scope and benefit of RT was introduced to local body and Self-help Groups (SHG) which was supposed to work as a system later. “This is for the first time that RT was introduced in Kerala, where the drawbacks have now came to the notice of authorities.  “It is now felt that more support of government agencies is needed to implement RT which will be taken to other panchayats in the State too’’, he said. A joint effort of all the agencies connected with tourism industry is needed to make RT a big success. Around 15 more places are also identified in the State to implement RT initiative.