Welcome back to Sustainability Stories Podcast
The 30th episode is with Mr. K. S. Srinivas, Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Principal Secretary of The Department of Kerala Tourism.
This meeting is during a brief encounter with him during the United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO event) in Abu Dhabi.
Kerala, a state in south India, is named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler, and is known worldwide especially for its ecotourism initiatives and beautiful back waters.
As for Kerala tourism, the villages initially rebelled against tourism development because of over-crowding and lack of substantial returns to the local economy.
To address this, the department did two things
(1) developed collaborations with local producers and artists
(2) Additionally, the development of cooperatives and village life experiences for tourists. This created new market opportunities to revive the tourism economy.
We’ll explore these initiatives and hear first-hand from Mr Srinivas how the state of Kerala has revitalized its tourism industry through a focus on sustainable practices.
