Madhya Pradesh has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kerala to implement the latter’s Responsible Tourism (RT) model which “involves local communities and makes tourism a tool for rural development.”
The RT mission, today, has more than 20,000 units comprising small-scale entrepreneurs, artists, craftspeople, traditional workers, farmers, and other service providers.
The two states signed a joint declaration under which Kerala will extend a series of services under a 16-point programme. The MoUs were exchanged by Kerala’s tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Usha Thakur.
As a part of this project, Kerala will help Madhya Pradesh chart its RT masterplan, ready human resources to implement the project, conduct training projects, list the criteria for the formation of district tourism promotion councils, locate sustained tourism projects, formulate social and economic security measures, help in gradation of hotels, resorts, and homestays, form tourism clubs and restrooms on lines of Kerala’s RT.
In the next one week, a 13-member team from Bhopal, led by Minister Thakur will tour different parts of Kerala to gather first-hand knowledge about RT in the state.
Surendran said Responsible Tourism is the “only tool for sustainable development of tourism” as it creates better places for people to live in and visit. “RT takes responsibility for the economic well-being of society. It ensures social and cultural stability besides environmental protection,” he noted, terming the pact with Madhya Pradesh as “another milestone” for Kerala Tourism and its RT Mission.
Expressing her views on this initiative, Thakur said, “There are several tribes like Bhil, Sahariya, and Gond living in our state, and we want to showcase their traditional value, attire and food habits to the entire country and outside word with Kerala’s assistance. India is a country of villages and its soul lies in the villages. We want to show it to the world with your cooperation.”
