Solidarity Tourism in Kerala

We all know the economic and social importance of tourism in Kerala, which has been called “God’s Own Country” in the several commercial campaigns launched by the Government of Kerala. The tourism industry is nowadays placing the tourist and customer at the centre of the activity, in an only business logic.

However, all around the world, we have seen more and more people proposing different approaches of tourism, and standing for a different way to promote tourism in countries. One of these approaches is called ‘solidarity tourism’. This form of ‘alternative tourism’ places men and local populations at the centre of the initiative. The populations are thus implicated in the various phases of the touristic project. This kind of tourism is founded on various principles such as the respect of every person, of nature and a fairer distribution of the resources that are generated by the touristic activity.

This conference/debate thus offers an opportunity to discuss about the possibility of promoting that kind of “social tourism” in Kerala. This challenge, which consists in taking more into consideration the local populations that are affected in many ways by the touristic activities and the tourism industry, might be a difficult one. But, with this conference, the Alliance Française offers the testimony and the experience of several persons, French and Indian, all involved in solidarity tourism, and thus offers a possibility, through dialogue and exchange, to design a new conception of tourism in Kerala, for the tourists and the Keralites.