Kerala's award-winning 'responsible tourism' (RT) initiatives have been hailed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which described them as a model for other destinations to replicate.
The world's foremost international tourism organization also called for the development of closer ties between Kerala Tourism and UNWTO, emphasizing the importance of further association to help take the message of sustainable tourism forward.
In a recent meeting held at UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Kerala Tourism Director U V Jose presented a report on the RT campaigns the heart of Kerala's tourism story for nearly a decade to Xu Jing, UNWTO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. The report contained details of the RT policies and practices implemented in the state.
Congratulating Kerala for the initiative's success, Jing said, "The UNWTO is proud of the work done by Kerala Tourism and impressed by the Kerala model of responsible and sustainable tourism".
"The recognition and request to take the RT message further by UNWTO reflect the strength of Kerala's pioneering initiatives and its commitment to practicing tourism in a responsible and sustainable manner with the interests of the local community and the traveler," Jose said. The meeting was held on the sidelines of FITUR 2017, one of the world's largest tourism and travel fairs, a release said.
