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In a significant step toward promoting sustainable tourism and mitigating the environmental impacts caused by excessive tourism, the Kerala Tourism Department is set to launch carrying capacity assessments at key hill stations across the state. This initiative follows a recent mandate by the Kerala High Court, calling for a study on the carrying capacity of hill stations like Wayanad to evaluate their environmental and infrastructural impact.
A senior official from the Tourism Department confirmed that the department was collaborating with the Forest Department to conduct these assessments at 15 selected hill stations. The assessments aim to evaluate the social, economic and environmental components of tourism at these popular destinations, providing crucial insights for future planning and development activities.
Destinations like Ponmudi, Munnar, Wagamon and Chembra in Wayanad have been identified as primary locations for these studies. The findings will help determine necessary infrastructure improvements, such as open spaces, toilets and other basic amenities for tourists.
Additionally, Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd. (KTIL) and Responsible Tourism (RT) are set to conduct carrying capacity studies at other tourist destinations across the state. The Tourism Department also plans to run awareness campaigns targeting both the general public and tourism stakeholders, emphasizing the need for regulations to protect ecologically sensitive areas.
While public resistance to new regulations is anticipated, the Tourism Department is committed to conserving these delicate ecosystems. Varkala, Kovalam and Munnar have been selected for pilot studies, with the assessment at Varkala expected to commence soon. Confidence-building measures among stakeholders will be a critical part of this process, according to officials.
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