One of the growing sectors of Indian economy is tourism. Tourism is an industry which
employs the leisure time of the people in a useful way. It is a major engine of economic
growth in most parts of the world.
The dynamics of tourism in the socio-economic development of a
country like India need not be over emphasized. The contribution of tourism as an earner of foreign
exchange, provider of employment and inclusive growth has been proved beyond doubt. Kerala, popularly
known as ‘God’s Own Country’, is the most wanted tourist destination in the country and hence the state
Government has been earnestly supporting the tourism sector. Kerala has clear natural advantage in
tourism industry. It enjoys a unique geographical feature of a long shoreline with serene beaches, alluring
Western Ghat ranges with lush hill stations and exotic wild life networked by 44 rivers and tranquil
stretches of emerald backwaters.
In addition, Kerala is endowed with a rich heritage of art, culture,
traditional dance forms, festivals, temples and traditional medicine. The Tourism Policy announced by the
State in 2012 is committed to promote tourism in the state by encouraging private investment to the sector.
In this background, a study has been conducted to understand the progress that the tourism industry
achieved, related impacts, the need for mitigating the negative externalities and the to the introduction of
an alternative like eco-tourism or green tourism etc. during the period of economic liberalization in Kerala.
It is found that there is an uninterrupted flow of tourists to the state for the period under study except in two
years and the contributions of tourism to the economy are found to be praiseworthy. A recent report
states that Kerala emerges as a long-haul tourist destination both domestic as well as international. It is
also found that the existing tourism brings about much damage to environmental resources and hence eco-
friendly tourism has become the need of hour.