Kerala tourism to welcome only responsible investors

The RT(Responsible Tourism) Classification launched way back in February 2011, became the operational in the end of May 2013. This classification is for tourist hotels, resorts, heritage homes, ayurveda resorts, serviced villas, houseboats and homestays etc.

Suman Billa(Tourism secretary) said that Kumarakom hotels and resorts would be declared Responsible Tourism complaint on June 27, at the inauguration of the International Conference on Responsible Tourism. He said that the capital and power subsidies would be constucted to RT compliant units. A new tourism venture can claim these all benefits only if conforms to the standards of prescribed in that classification process. the tourism secretary words. The incentives are only for five years only. Suman Billa also said that he was also working on certain incentives to nudge established units to secure   the Responsible Tourism classification.

The  the classifications are developed on the basis of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC). the tourism secretary said that 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 given to those that meet or exceed the prescribed standard using various indicators.

Classification divides total points of 1000 among 4 categories. they are sustainable management (200), socio cultural responsibility (250), economic responsibility (250) and environmental responsibility (300). Properties scores between 750 to 1000(Platinum), 600 to 749(Gold) and 500 to 599(Silver)respectively.