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Tourist destinations in Kerala are going to be waste-free and will thus contribute to the Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission of the state to make Kerala ‘totally green’. Through this project the use of plastics in the state will be curtailed and green certifications will be issued for selected tourism destinations.

Another component of RT Mission is the Clean Kerala Initiative (CKI) that will initially be introduced in nine key destinations with the support of the Kerala Travel Mart Foundation, local bodies and others.

Kovalam; Munnar; Alappuzha, including Alappuzha backwaters, Muhamma and Marari Beach; Kumarakom; Fort Kochi; Wayanad; Kollam; Bekal; and Thekkady will figure in the first phase.

As part of its activities the RT Mission has played a key role in replacing plastic straws with ones made of coconut fronds or bamboo in Thekkady and introducing glass bottles at resorts in Kumarakom and Thekkady.

Proper waste management, organic farming, rainwater harvesting, use of renewable energy, reduction of plastic use, promoting local procurement in hotels and resorts, local employment, and creation of livelihood opportunities will be part of the project.

A set of guidelines and road map will be prepared with the help of experts and stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the project, which will begin with a two-day workshop in the capital on July 24; 2019.

Field surveys, destination-level cleaning, awareness brochures for tourists, green/waste-free destination declaration, and cloth/paper bag distribution figure in the initiatives.

Kerala Tourism will support the initiative by installing CCTV cameras, reverse osmosis plants and plastic shredding machines at the destinations.

A State-level monitoring committee comprising the Secretary and Director of Tourism will be formed to monitor the implementation of the project.

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