KeralaThe Model State

Location

- Title = comes from geographic isolation Kerala enclosed by westerly mountain range [Western Ghats].

- Keralites, as they are known, call Kerala “God’s Own Country”.

- Mountains = cause rainshadow over Tamil Nadu --> Kerala remains vibrant green --> Result = “god’s favor” superstition

- Kerala’s ecology = extremely vibrant/diverse --> Simply: Very Green.

- Reason: Rain from coastal location + trapped monsoon due to Mt. Range.

-Example of unique ecosystems = Silent Valley National Park, Kerala --> Undisturbed rainforest area of India, home to incredible eco-diversity.

-Thus Kerala’s attraction = ecological abundance --> not man-made, but natural, beauty

-However -> Kerala’s biggest attraction = ‘Backwaters’. --> Kerala = houses many freshwater inland lakes.

-Coastal proximity + inland lakes = make Kerala perfect resort material --> huge tourist attraction.

-Idyllic geographical factors, thus, cause a huge boom in the resort Industry within Kerala --> plausible = unsustainable development.

Above: Tourist resort on Kerala Backwaters.

Transportation- Kerala transportation = highly efficient --> houses 3 international airports, allowing tourists from around the world, and within India, easy access.

- In fact --> Indian low-cost domestic air transport growth = spectacular --> Paris Air-Show, 2005, IndiGO bought 100 A320s [6 billion $]

- Growth of Indian airlines sector surpassed, globally, only by China.

- Additionally --> Transportation on the ground includes: buses, taxis and rickshaws.

- Cost of transport = extremely cheap --> rickshaws = reliable transportation for as cheap as 1 dollar [50 rupees].

-Public bus system = very useful, though unfrequented by tourists --> taxis = most common choice of transport.

-Lastly = intricate railway system spreads all throughout India, and through Kerala --> simplifies travel even further.

Trends- Kerala = known as the Model State --> exhibits very odd trends.

Development/Economic Trends:

- Extremely high Human Development Index [highest in India] + most progressive education/health system in India. high literacy + high life expectancy--> on par with the West.

- Contrastingly --> among poorest parts of India --> quality of life = very low --> economic growth = staggered.

- This puzzling situation = dubbed “The Kerala Model” --> economic growth, and development, may not go hand in hand --> Thus, is Kerala a pity or a miracle?

http://correspondents.theatlantic.com/conor_clarke/600%20kerala%20life%20expectancy.png

Touristic Growth Trends:

Tourism Industry Growth Rate:

No. of Jobs from Tourism:

13.31 % annually 693,000 (2003)

2 million (2012)

With such rapid growth, fear of an unsustainable future continue to grow..

Impacts and Sustainability

of Tourism

Positive

NegativeSocial/Cultural

Environmental: Beaches

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/06/19/images/2008061951652301.jpg

http://nimg.sulekha.com/others/thumbnailfull/beach-debris-2009-3-10-12-30.jpg

http://www.keralaindiatravel.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/KeralaBeachVarkala-400x600.jpg

Environmental: Houseboats

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/22/1f/c2/kerala.jpg

Economic

http://static.open.salon.com/files/img_132600011236819557.jpg

Sustainability Solutions