Kerala tourism has introduced a new policy for
tourism investors. It will roll out the red carpet only for ‘responsible
tourism’ (RT).
The RT Classification became operational
by the end of May 2013. The classification is for tourist accommodation
providers such as hotels, resorts, heritage homes, ayurveda resorts, serviced
villas, houseboats and home stays. The first step is all hotels and resorts in
Kumarakom would be declared RT-complaint on June 27, at the inauguration of the
International Conference on Responsible Tourism.
Any new tourism unit was entitled to
capital subsidy and power tariff concessions. It is a selective plan. A new tourism venture can claim these
benefits only if it conforms to the standards prescribed in the classification
process.
The criteria for the classification are
developed on the basis of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC). An RT
classification will be considered a written assurance that a business, product,
process, service, or management system conforms to a specific standard. A marketable logo is using various criteria
and related indicators.
The classification divides total points
of 1000 among four responsibility categories: sustainable management (200);
socio cultural responsibility (250); economic responsibility (250);
environmental responsibility (300). Properties that have scores between 750–
1000, 600–749 and 500–599 will be classified as Platinum, Gold and
Silver respectively.
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