Kerala Tourism is hosting an event during the third edition of Beypore International Water Festival (BIWF) to spotlight the country’s diverse handicraft heritage, aligning with the state’s push for sustainable and inclusive tourism.
The Responsible Tourism and Textile Art Festival, to be inaugurated by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, will run until December 30. It’s a showcase of art and craft traditions spanning 17 Indian states, featuring pottery, weaving, dress-making, and more—cherished skills passed down through generations.
Organised by Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Mission, the festival not only highlights Kerala’s esteemed handloom industry but also offers live demonstrations where artisans from various states display their crafts, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation.
“The craft festival has been conceived as an added feature to the Beypore international water festival when the ancient port town of Malabar is all set to emerge as a global tourism hub,” Riyas noted.
“Leveraging the fabulous handloom, handicraft, agricultural and cuisine traditions of different states of the country is important for responsible and sustainable tourism promotion. Apart from displaying a wide variety of textile traditions, the festival will have live demonstrations of the art and craft,” added RT Mission State Coordinator K. Rupeshkumar.
These include pictorial embossment, dyeing, textile printing, making of decorative clothes like tapestries and display of different types of handlooms and spinning equipment used by craftspeople from various states and sub-regions.
The expo will also have a wide range of items on sale: tourist souvenirs and agricultural as well as food products from various units of the State RT Mission — at affordable prices. Planned as an upfront initiative, the event will have conversations and workshops on preserving the craft traditions and leveraging them for promotion of tourism which will benefit the local communities, Rupeshkumar said.
While the Homestay and Caravan Tourism Policies have taken centre stage already, the state government is gearing up for the introduction of additional policies such as agro-eco tourism, wellness, and adventure, focusing on attracting investments while ensuring transparency and regulation in the tourism landscape. The Minister for Tourism, IT, E&C and Printing and Stationary, Rohan Khaunte shared all and more with ETTravelWorld. Read here.
A section on Kerala’s agricultural products at the expo, planned in association with Agrifarm Tourism Network units, will showcase an assortment of organic food products and spices, besides promoting the Village Experience packages from different districts. According to an official update, the entire spectrum of travel and tourism stakeholders including HATS, women RT clubs and adventure tourism agencies have extended their support to the event. Today also marks the inauguration of the highly anticipated Beypore International Water Festival (BIWF) by the Tourism Minister Riyas. This event is poised to attract global attention with its lineup of competitive water sports featuring participants from various countries, enhancing its international appeal.
Joining this festival are representatives from states such as Tamil Nadu, Assam, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Odisha, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, amplifying the diversity and scale of this gathering.
BIWF, organised by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with the District Administration and District Tourism Promotion Council, strategically unfolds across prime locations like Beypore Marina Beach, Chaliyam Beach on the Chaliyar River banks, Nallur, and Beypore Port. The festival extends its reach to key spots like Kozhikode Beach, strategically aiming to draw both local and international business interest.
The festival launch commences with a bicycle rally from Kozhikode Beach to Beypore Beach at 7 am on December 26. It will also feature an array of cultural showcases, a sizable food festival, engaging adventure sports activities, and exclusive access to Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
The event roster boasts an international kite fest engaging participants from five countries, dinghy boat races, flyboard demonstrations, surf ski displays, flea markets, paramotoring, sailing regattas, and net throwing, among other activities.
[ad_2]
Source link
Kerala‘s widely-recognised Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission has achieved global recognition by earning a coveted spot on the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) prestigious list of case studies. This accolade further highlights the state’s innovative approach towards grassroots development while championing tourism aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UNWTO commended Kerala Tourism for its exemplary commitment to upholding the SDGs while fostering the growth of the travel industry within the state. Kerala’s strategy involved leveraging local resources and products to bolster RT destinations, effectively aligning with and contributing to the realization of the SDGs. A dashboard showcasing Kerala Tourism’s website details the state’s comprehensive activities in this regard.
Congratulating the State RT Mission, Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas said Kerala’s initiative in promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism has been earning international acclaim for a while now. “Tourists across the globe are watching our activities with great interest. The UNWTO’s recognition will further inspire us to promote eco-friendly tourism,” he noted.
Kerala’s RT Mission stands distinguished among seven G20 nations, alongside Maharashtra, the other Indian state recognised for its Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve project. These two Indian case studies join a select group of seven G20 countries featured on the UNWTO list, including Mexico, Germany, Mauritius, Turkey, Italy, Brazil, and Canada.
Kerala’s inclusion in the Special Dashboard stems from the state’s commendable tourism promotion endeavours, meticulously aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This recognition also reaffirms Kerala’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices on a global platform.
This move stems from the recognition that 1.3 billion individuals globally grapple with significant disabilities, necessitating a concerted effort to make tourism universally accessible. Discussions among experts highlighted the untapped potential of this market, emphasising the need to craft tourism experiences under the banner of Universal Design. Debates also underscored the pivotal role of social inclusivity and accessibility in fostering sustainable tourism.
Department of Tourism Secretary K. Biju said the international honour will inspire the state to scale-up the RT model and expand it to more areas. “This will also boost local industry,” he added. Kerala Tourism Director PB Nooh, while recalling the state’s hosting of the first-ever Responsible Tourism Global Summit at Kumarakom in February this year, said that the UNWTO Citation had strengthened the presence of ‘God’s Own Country’ on the world tourism map.
Additionally, the UNWTO citation comes close on the heels of the Kerala RT Mission getting the Global Award, acknowledging the sustainable and women-inclusive initiatives successfully promoted in the state. The award, instituted by the Responsible Tourism Partnership and International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT), is in the ‘Best for Local Sourcing – Craft and Food’ category.
Kerala RT Mission State Coordinator K. Rupeshkumar said these honours endorsed the relentless efforts made by the State RT Mission towards overall socio-economic development amid its tourism-boosting initiatives.
[ad_2]
Source link