The Aymanam Model Responsible Tourism Village Project of Kerala Tourism bagged ‘Indian Responsible Tourism One To Watch’ award at World Travel Market, fetching global attention to the riverine location near Kottayam in Kerala.
Kerala Tourism Director Mr Krishna Teja, IAS, received the honour at WTM in London in the ‘High-Speed Diversification category for tourist activities spanning two years ending on March 31, 2020. The award-winning project functions under Responsible Tourism Mission, which was formed four years ago as a nodal agency by the Kerala government.
The award comes after the village fully implemented the RT Mission’s guidelines focusing on ecological conservation of tourist spots besides promotion of culture in a way that helps the local populace earn income.
The WTM award will further enable Kerala to revive its tourism after a lull following the outbreak of Covid-19 in March last year. Mr.P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Tourism, Govt of Kerala “We look forward to getting the travel industry back on track at the earliest. The WTM award can help us retain the international appeal Kerala has on the tourist map.”
Dr Venu V., Additional Chief Secretary, KeralaTourism, noted that responsible tourism seeks to strengthen local development with people’s participation. The government is planning to implement the project in other villages of the state, thereby serving RT models to the rest of the country, he added.
The RT Mission is carrying out the model village projects by coordinating the government’s tourism initiatives under respective panchayats. Helmed by Mr K. Rupesh Kumar, KT Mission Coordinator, the project seeks to implement a 15-point programme. Launched in 2018 in 13 regions of Kerala, the endeavour has spread to Neendoor, Arpookara, Ezhumanthuruth and Thiruvarpu of Kottayam district in south-central Kerala.
As part of the RT project, Aymanam, along the Meenachil river, has several homestays, while eight more are set to earn recognition. The village is carrying out packages featuring rural life, bird-watching, walks across paddy fields, cycling and sightseeing of the countryside. It has women as tour community leaders, earning worldwide recognition.
Also, authorities have readied an Aymanam tourism resource directory and publicity videos that are wooing travellers to the village. The project also comprises a cultural experience package featuring local festivals and traditional art forms. An ‘Aambal’ festival in Aymanam recently fetched good income to Shikara motorboat owners.
The first phase of RT Mission was over in March 2020, 617 local residents and 118 entrepreneurs were trained in jobs to start a business. On the New Year day of 2020, Aymanam’s houseboats, shikaras, motorboats and resorts were declared plastic-free. Starting in September 2020 the second phase is currently going on and will end in March 2022.
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