Responsible Tourism

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND THE VILLAGE EXPERIENCE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WAYANAD

Introduction

Tourism is prepensed to be an economic bonanza. It is a multi-segment industry while calibrating the positive economic ramification of tourism, its contribution to the generation of national income, expansion of employment opportunities, increasing of taxes, revenue, and generation of foreign exchange and transformation of regiment economy. Tourism industry is a heterogeneous industry made of complex components. This intangible perishable service industry is getting the right business curve backed by information and communication technology now-a-day. Tourism is sought as an opportunity to more beyond cycles of poverty toward a better life and

It gives emphasis to people, planet and profit at the same time, that is giving equal priority as tourism ventures are set up. If the tourism ventures are business minded and focus only on profits, the environment will be severely damaged. But ever since the responsible tourism policy was introduced it gave importance to the community and the environment. Among these three (people, planet and profit) main emphasis is given to people. By people they mean the host and the guest that include in the tourism venture. Under the responsible tourism policy, when a tourism spot is recognized and a business venture is launched in that area, the primary stakeholder should be the local community thus they give prior importance to the host of that area. Apart from the stakeholder- ship the society should also get a share of the tangible economic benefit. Since setting up the venture will impact their lives directly, the society should be allowed to involve in the decisions undertaken for the same. The responsible tourism policy focuses that the venture is accessible to all, young or old, disabled, dependent or independent, children, families etc. Finally the experience should be based on mutual respect between the host community and the guests and should enhance the pride of the host community. The second significance is given to the sustainability of the environment (planet). The responsible tourism policy focuses on

The RT implementation got very little support from the media. The vegetables produced in Gundlepet and Ooty the two wholesale markets were given at a very low price to the hotels. The products sold by Samrudhi shops where higher than these wholesale shops. This led to the declaration in the number of hotels which demanded the products from Samrudhi shops. Admittedly, the hotels and resorts are to incur financial losses when they buy items supplied through RT.

Findings

• The tourism activities in Wayanad incurred at a low pace.

• The local residents believed that tourism activities are good for Wayanad.

• Tourism generated a large number of employment opportunities for the local community in Wayanad.

• Tourism created local market through the shopping activities of the tourists.

• The local residents did not have any tourism education

• The main disadvantages associated with tourism was increase in prices, exploitation of cultural resources and the destruction of the environment.

• The DTPC did not provide any awareness programe to the local people, many tourist got to know about Wayanad through friends and internet.

• Government takes right steps to monitor the sustainable tourism in