Slow but steady

Finally, the work we kick started is slowly taking shape. After some hiccups and delays of couple of few months, today we had the first meeting of the working committee on Responsible Tourism for Kerala in the state capital. The 40 member state level working group was divided into smaller groups based on the triple bottom line : Economic, Environmental and Social aspects. Four destinations have been identified to implement the process.

Wayanad (hill station and upcoming destination)
Kumarakom (well known backwater destination)
Kovalam and (well known and old destination
Periyar (well known wildlife destination)

The first meeting in the local destinations will start in Wayanad on the 6th of May, followed by 7th in Kumarakom. The idea is to brief all the stake holders (hoteliers, panchayats, civil society organisations, Government organisations etc) about the initiatives taken so far in the "Better Together" workshop and the working committee meeting of today. It will also explore the definitions of Responsibility according to the stake holders in the local areas. In a broader framework, this should also look at setting up the destination co-ordination committees and local working groups of various stake holders. These meetings should be exploring the dimensions of demand-supply gaps that would come across while creating economic linkages to RT initiative.

I know of some of the foreign consultants who have expressed their concerns about these kind of processes being ineffective and time consuming. In any functional democracy that aims to work towards decentralisation of power, I guess this is the way to go forward. Engagement and participation within a broader frame work. Especially when there are not many models to look at implementation.

Not that there is no scope for improvement!

Thiruvananthapuram © GP 2007