Kerala bags ICRT Gold award for Responsible Tourism Project

The Comprehensive Responsible Tourism project being implemented by Kerala Tourism in Beypore in Kozhikode District has won the prestigious Gold award of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, India Chapter (ICRT India) for 2024.

The Beypore project gets the award in the “Employing and Upskilling Local Community” category, considering the activities planned and implemented for leveraging tourism potential of the area for generating jobs and economically empowering the local community, especially women.

This is the third consecutive year that Kerala is receiving the Gold award for its globally-acclaimed, sustainable and inclusive Responsible Tourism initiative, implemented through the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society (KRTM Society).  

Known for its rich maritime history dating back to centuries and stunning scenic charm, Beypore was one of the world’s busiest ports that attracted traders from West Asia and the Mediterranean lands to the Malabar coast.

The KRTM initiatives have turned Beypore into a major tourism destination in north Kerala, and the venue for an international water tourism festival that brings rowers, surfers and water sports enthusiasts from all over the world to compete. It is really exciting to know that Kerala has again won the coveted IRTC India Gold award, all the more so since Beypore has been selected for this honour,

Kerala Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas said. “This demonstrates the resounding success of Kerala’s sustainable and inclusive tourism development model, whose highlight is social and economic empowerment of the local community by leveraging the vast potential of tourism”, Shri Riyas added.  “The RT initiative has made significant contributions in adding new destinations to the state’s tourism circuit with the active participation of the local community,” Tourism Secretary Shri K Biju said. “The RT project of Kerala has successfully shown that tourism can be leveraged for local empowerment, especially of women and youth. It also helps greatly in preserving nature and heritage, which adds up to the holistic experience visitors to Kerala look forward to,” said Tourism Director Smt Sikha Surendran.

The project, launched in 2021, works towards the ambitious goal of positioning Beypore on the world tourism map as a successful model of participatory development in tourism, explains KRTM Society CEO K Rupeshkumar.

The first four phases of the project are all set to be completed by November this year. So far, 112 RT units have been formed in the area, engaged in a variety of activities and services.

The activities aimed at community empowerment included setting up of Kerala’s first government-run surfing school and training local youth in a variety of enterprises. For the first time, tourism-oriented village assemblies (grama sabha) were held in the area, which was attended by 459 people in four sessions. Also, local tourism clubs have been formed to engage the community in tourism development.

Leveraging digital technology, an e-resource directory, e-brochures and other publicity materials highlighting the key features of the area were also brought out.

The widely appreciated STREET (Sustainable, Tangible, Responsible, Experiential, Ethnic, Tourism Hubs) project for conservation of nature and cultural traditions has been implemented in the area with the support of the Kadalundi Grama Panchayat. These include Culture STREET, Food STREET and Village Life Experience initiatives that heighten the experiential value of the area. 

Beypore, famed in history for its shipbuilding tradition leveraging the exceptional skills of local shipwrights and artisans, has of late emerged as a major attraction for foreign tourists and bloggers, says Shri Rupeshkumar.

The award was presented at the two-day ICRT India conference held in New Delhi from August 30 to 31.