Kerala clinched the prestigious Global Responsible Tourism Award 2023 in recognition of its commendable efforts in sustainable and women-inclusive initiatives, championed by the State’s Responsible Tourism Mission. P A Mohammed Riyas, the State Tourism Minister, joyfully announced the victory in the ‘Best for Local Sourcing – Craft and Food’ category, presented by the Responsible Tourism Partnership and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT). He stated, “The State RT Mission was selected for the award, the most valued honor being given for sustainable and inclusive tourism initiatives, for linking women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tourism activities and ensuring effective marketing of indigenous products.”
This international accolade was shared by the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission and Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, a landlocked nation in southern Africa, celebrated for its eco-friendly Ngwenya Glass. Minister Riyas emphasized that this award underscores the universal appeal of responsible tourism projects successfully implemented in Kerala, setting a practical model for the entire country and other nations. He highlighted the essence of this model, which focuses on nature and heritage conservation while fostering substantial benefits for local communities.
Furthermore, the minister underscored the Kerala RT Mission’s commitment to women-friendly tourism projects, supported by UN Women, an organization dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment. This marks the second time that the Kerala RTM has received the Responsible Tourism Global Award, following its Water STREET project’s recognition in Maravanthuruthu, Kottayam district, last year. The award jury acknowledged the RTM’s dedication to promoting the ethnic and traditional foods of each locality through tourism, offering tourists authentic local culinary experiences in the homes of locals and generating additional income for the communities, as per the Tourism Department.
The Global Responsible Tourism Awards, which cover Africa, India, and Latin America regions, were distributed in six categories: Best for Tackling Plastic Waste, Best for Meaningful Connections, Best for Local Sourcing – Craft and Food, Addressing Climate Change, Best for Diversity and Inclusion, and Best for Nature-Positive Tourism.
Post Your Comments