The 5th Workshop of the India Series Workshops by the ESOI (Ecotourism Society of India) was held at Indeco Hotels, Mahabalipuram, with a focus on Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry to sensitize the industry on “Practising Responsible Tourism”. The workshop had speakers of varied backgrounds, directly or indirectly related to tourism, who demonstrated responsible initiatives taken by them as well as those that need to be taken up . It was supported by Tamilnadu Tourism, Puducherry Tourism, RCI and Mahindra Holidays.
The workshop was well-attended by 69 registered organisations from hospitality and travel trade, tourism department, as well as students and faculty from educational institutes. The distinguished speakers covered the following:
- Definition and Elements of Eco Tourism & Responsible Tourism
- Current Resources & Linkages
- Global thinking and practices
- Voicing concerns of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
- Responsible tourism Practices & Government initiatives
- Media s role in propagating & upholding responsible tourism
- Some success stories and case studies
ESOI’s workshop further fine tuned the definition of ecotourism as
“The practice of low impact, educational, ecological and culturally sensitive travel that not only benefits local communities and host countries but also conserves and preserves their nature, heritage, art, lifestyle and practices”.
Heritage Conservation
Mr.Ashok Panda from INTACH revealed the success of Puducherry Tourism boom to restored heritage buildings around the Aurobindo Ashram and the beach. He also said that this was possible by an MoU signed with Pondicherry Government and the liaison has helped conserve Pondicherry’s Colonial heritage.
While such heritage conservation was made possible by Public-Private partnership, Mr.Aman Nath, famous for the restoration of the Neemrana Fort Palace, briefed the participants of the ordeals with the Government for such restoration activities. This was also stressed by Mr. S. Muthiah, historian and columnist, who spoke of the failed attempts in trying to get a Heritage Act in Tamil Nadu and the derelict state of many potential buildings in Chennai.
Mr. Mathew Samuel, the Director of Tourism, Puducherry gave us a more positive outlook on the success of Puducherry’s tourism based on restoration of heritage buildings. The Asia Urbs project on the Vysial St of Puducherry won a UNESCO award making heritage a fashion. He also insisted on having a heritage legal framework.
Inclusive Tourism
Mr.Niranjan Katri from the ITC Welcom Group gave light into empowering disabled people as employees of the company. He expressed the need to carve a new segment for inclusive tourism. According to Dr.Venu, the Tourism Secretary of Kerala, CSR is an easy way out to find an NGO and get the work done. The Responsible tourism initiative taken in Kerala made hoteliers to go outside their comfort zone and involve the community participation in tourism by means of creating relationships with them by procuring their produce without compromise of quality .
Sustainable practices
Mr.Jose Dominic from CGH Earth said that business and ecology can co-exist. When other states were industrializing, Kerala was able to preserve much of its Ecology thanks to tourism. He showed us a case study of Lakshadweep whose strategy was the absence of technology and a world class experience is not about ostentation but experience. Thus the mantra of “Less is More “
Mr. C.B.Ramkumar founder of Our Native Village, Karnataka, spoke about various environmental initiatives implemented in his resort to achieve total sustainability. Bio gas, Gujarat boiler, a natural swimming pool, sun dried bricks, natural detergents were some of the elements he displayed where it is feasible to walk the path and achieve a total eco friendly resort .
Ms. Radhika Sastry, MD of RCI India gave details on how RCI affiliates have taken action in areas of energy, water and resource conservation that showed a dramatic decline in consumption and cost effectiveness. Other policies such as recycling and reuse, education and innovation further added to reduction in consumption and other “green” alternatives. They wished to go the extra mile in the RCI strategy for being more responsible as a group .
Mr.Peter Martin, Head of Operations at Mahindra Holidays expressed that Sustainable tourism is not a mere branding exercise but good business sense as well. Mr.Steve Borgia founder of INDeco Hotels, gave examples from his resorts INDeco Ananadam and INDeco Mahabalipuram, on responsible tourism. The concept of every resort was geographical positioning based on community involvement, employment and eco-friendly sustenance.
Mr.Mandip Singh Soin, President ESOI said that the intention of the session was to bring about good practices in Tourism both India wise and globally. He thus gave case studies of short listed award winners of the World Travel & Tourism Council. ( WTTC )
Other topics discussed were environment degradation and restoration, need for developmental journalism and greening the supply chain. The key elements the workshop concluded with were, need for public-private partnership, strict regulation of Tourism which is conducted with responsible tourism principles in wildlife areasand Fragile Natural areas, community involvement and stakeholder involvement.
Future courses will be conducted in Jammu & Kashmir and the North East .