Journal du tourisme et de l'hôtellerie
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The Prospects and Challenges of Developing Hydel Tourism Destinations in Kerala: A Scope for Responsible Tourism Practices

Nimi Markose*

Hydel tourism is a niche tourism product that is now a “special interest tourism” developing in any part of the world. In India, it is gaining much importance and Kerala tourism considered it as a niche tourism product. KHTC, a unit of KSEB, was registered in 1999 to promote tourism and effective exploitation of water bodies managed and controlled by KSE Board Ltd in remote places. It focuses on the efficient use of water based tourist potential in the natural surroundings of the state's hydel projects areas, as well as the preservation of the area's ecosystem. It also focuses on providing an opportunity for the public to know about hydro power plants and facilitate them with a variety of eco-friendly activities through 11 hydel tourism destinations. Currently, Kerala is facing a heavy setback because of the natural calamity flood. In this background, we would like to throw light on Hydel tourism development through responsible tourism practices. This study throws light on the hydel tourism prospects, its Implications and promotion by adopting various sustainable responsible tourism practices, which benefits the local community as well as government. The study also aims to develop a hydel tourism circuit as a best practice of responsible tourism.