Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable Tourism in Kumarakom – A Case Study
Background
kumarakom is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Kayal (backwater), 10 km. west of the Kottayam District Head Quarters in Kerala. Kumarakom, a backwater tourism hub is gaining strategic place in on the tourist map due to its natural charm and aesthetic beauty. Tourism development in Kumarakom started with the lease of KTDC land in the bird sanctuary area to Taj Kerala Resorts Limited in the 1989. Tourism has developed rapidly in the area hence Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s visit in 2000 December and his popular ‘Musings from Kumarakom’ has created much hype among tourists in this otherwise calm village. Kumarakom panchayat at present has 8 big resorts contributing to 580 beds and creating direct employment opportunities for 740 people and indirect employment opportunities for 324 others.
Meagre employment gains
The employment opportunity in the tourism sector was not favourable to the local community with 80% of the regular employees in big hotels appointed from outside Kumarakom. A study conducted by EQUATIONS in 2000, “Women’s participation in tourism development” revealed that most of the labourers lost their traditional occupations. Women and agricultural labourers displaced from the lands converted for tourism could not be compensated with alternative jobs. The contract labourers appointed by the tourism industry did not have job security and were terminated at any time without assigning any reason. Although these workers are eligible for minimum wages, they are paid at much lower rates.The clustering of the resorts on the banks of Vembanad Kayal denied access to local people involved in fishing and shell collection to the kayal. The increased number of speedboats, motor boats and house boats plying as part of the tourism development has resulted in the damage of fishing nets of the community bathe in the Vembanad kayal. Tourist resorts have even gone to the extent of privatising and
Background
kumarakom is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Kayal (backwater), 10 km. west of the Kottayam District Head Quarters in Kerala. Kumarakom, a backwater tourism hub is gaining strategic place in on the tourist map due to its natural charm and aesthetic beauty. Tourism development in Kumarakom started with the lease of KTDC land in the bird sanctuary area to Taj Kerala Resorts Limited in the 1989. Tourism has developed rapidly in the area hence Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s visit in 2000 December and his popular ‘Musings from Kumarakom’ has created much hype among tourists in this otherwise calm village. Kumarakom panchayat at present has 8 big resorts contributing to 580 beds and creating direct employment opportunities for 740 people and indirect employment opportunities for 324 others.
Meagre employment gains
The employment opportunity in the tourism sector was not favourable to the local community with 80% of the regular employees in big hotels appointed from outside Kumarakom. A study conducted by EQUATIONS in 2000, “Women’s participation in tourism development” revealed that most of the labourers lost their traditional occupations. Women and agricultural labourers displaced from the lands converted for tourism could not be compensated with alternative jobs. The contract labourers appointed by the tourism industry did not have job security and were terminated at any time without assigning any reason. Although these workers are eligible for minimum wages, they are paid at much lower rates.The clustering of the resorts on the banks of Vembanad Kayal denied access to local people involved in fishing and shell collection to the kayal. The increased number of speedboats, motor boats and house boats plying as part of the tourism development has resulted in the damage of fishing nets of the community bathe in the Vembanad kayal. Tourist resorts have even gone to the extent of privatising and