The aim of sustainable tourism is to make a balance between guarding the milieu, upholding cultural veracity, instituting social justice and indorsing economic benefits, meeting the needs of the host population in terms of better-quality living standards both in the short and long term.

The travel and tourism industry is positioned among the leading industries in the world. However, the demeaning effects of tourism have become a big apprehension and need to be addressed quickly. With this in mind, the concept of sustainable tourism has materialized with the aim of dropping the undesirable effects of tourism activities, which has become almost universally accepted as a desirable and politically applicable methodology to tourism expansion.

Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present-day tourists and host regions while shielding and augmenting openings for the future. It is predicted as leading to management of all means in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while preserving cultural veracity, essential ecological progressions, biological diversity and life backing systems.
Here is where “nalumanikkattu” the India’s first road side village tourism project becomes extraordinary. Nalumanikattu is a road side sightseer fascination and frivolous park in Kottayam district of Kerala. It is a good illustration of how a place can be used meritoriously in an eco-friendly means.

Sustainable tourism meets the demands of the present without negotiating the capacity of future generations to meet their own needs. In Kottayam district there is a place called Manarcad and there is a small tourist area called “Nalumanikattu” the specialty of the place is the local people sell home cooked snacks and farm products. No plastic is used as part of eco-friendly practices; environment is set to appreciate nature. Here we witness the grass root level efforts by which sustainable tourism is flourishing. Sustainable tourism is that which encompasses travelling to undisturbed natural areas with the specified objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the natural world.

The story goes like this years back this place was used by uncivilized passersby to dump the waste and living in this place became not very practical for the people. They were seriously discerning of preventing this and making use of the place. Then the resident association came up with the idea of clearing the place and they took the help of a group of women called ‘kudumbashree’, who takes responsibility of such activities. Once they cleared up the place, using the technical help of Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences converted the place into a lovely park, and dream came into a reality. And gave the fascinating name ‘Nalumanikkattu”.

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You can enjoy the cuddling cool breeze (the term “Nalumanikkattu” in Malayalam means “the 4’O clock breeze”), and relax on the benches provided here. The people of this area is frantically looking for a place to unwind after the mounting stress of daily life. The picturesque view has lush green paddy fields on either sides, from where you will be able to watch the sunrise and sunset very clearly especially charming towards the end of monsoon and winter seasons in India.

There are a few food counters that serve traditional Kerala dishes and snacks like Kaachil Puzhungiyathu with chilly chutney, Kappa Veyichathu, Chempu Puzhungiyathu, Dal Vada, Urud dal Vada, banana fritters, egg baggy and chilly baggy served with tasty Chutney and other side dishes or curries. Most of the food-counters are run by Kudumbashree members. Here no outsiders are permitted to sell their products.

Most of these activities and food counters operate during prime leisure hours’ evenings, or between 4 PM and 7 PM on weekdays. The reason is obvious that this is the time people are free after their daily assignments.

During main vacations and other celebrations, cultural programs are also show cased at “Naalumanikkaattu”.

There is a kids corner in this place where you see lot of innovative play things and it is good place for the children to come out of their congested home and enjoy the environment. Parks are a great place for toddlers to discover nature and workout their imagination, connecting with family. While kids may feel associated with nature at a park, it also conveys quality family time. The children those who are exposed to such activities will improve the quality of life and will become more gregarious in their attitude and behaviour. Since nalumanikkattu is comparatively a quiet place there are lot of things to learn.

The games and activities for kids are– like swings, a snake boat model, a big slide, outdoor metal climbing toy etc. and above all long space to run around and enjoy with friends. There is also a small Butterfly section at one end of the area. Where you can see various types of its kind and this is a major attraction for children as well as for foreigners visiting this place.

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While you have a hot drink and eat something , and if you love to read something there is a mobile library. You don’t feel that you are wasting your time or since the place is very conducive for spending the evening in solitude you can definitely make use of the library. You can read and return the books or even you can buy the book. There is also another option to take the membership in the library for those who are interested. They call this library as ‘Time pass’, because there are many individual traveller visiting this place and it is a best way to devote the sundown. Another surprising thing about the mobile library is that so many people come forward and donate books, and give suggestions to buy the book of their choice.

Another important thing about this place is there is a market which sells Kerala’s well-known agricultural products. Mainly jackfruit, tapioca, different varieties of mango. During rainy season you will find numerous kinds of river fish selling on the way side, and good number of the people of Kerala are fish lovers. This is another reason that attract people to this destination. All food items that are sold here are organically grown and occasionally though the price is little higher comparatively there are customers to buy the products. As we know today everyone is becoming more well-being sensible and are aware of the chemicals that go into the food from the time of cultivation to the harvest. Either people are trying to grow vegetables and fruits at home on their own or buy them from the reliable source. No doubt this is right place to materialize these ideas.

There are very authentic and eye-catching seating facilities arranged here and photographers choose this place for the post marriage alum shooting and it is also a well-known place for the selfie lovers. The seating facilities are such that people can sit together in group or as a family. There is lot of entertainment and at the same time seclusion at this place. One can feel a homely and heavenly atmosphere here. Though the place is not very refined and sophisticated and provides lot of entertainment and bliss. One can also experience the actual meaning of sustainable and eco-tourism.

Conclusion
Sustainable tourism is the concept of visiting any place as a tourist and trying to make a positive influence on the environment, society, and economy. The place Nalumanikattu is a good example of sustainable tourism. years back it was a dumbing yard and because of this living here was always a question and people were disposed to all types of ailments. It was the good will of the resident association and hats off to them for their untiring efforts which led an abandoned area to a tourism terminus. It is a developing area and a good place for the nature lovers to spend their free time. Today there is a high demand for farm-grown products. This is also a place where local people specially homemakers can sell their homemade product and earn their lively hood.

Places like this are a training ground for the fledgling cohort. Since parents are involved in conserving the environment and sustaining it, kids get to learn firsthand the importance of responsible living. Examples like this are prevalent in the countryside of Europe, where it has become part of the culture. The same model like Nalumanikattu can be developed in other, villages’ towns and city fringes. Shorn of sustaining there is no future for human race, and what better training ground than one’s own home and vicinity.

It is enticing a rather intricate developing segment that involves skill and professionalism. Tourism must offer products that are operated in harmony with the local atmosphere, public attitudes and cultures, so that these become the permanent recipients and not victims of tourism development. The term ‘sustainability’ which has gained celebrity in tourism jargon, is seen by many writers as an important part of the philosophy flooding all levels of tourism policy issues and practices from coast-to-coast to local.

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Author: Ms. Regy Joseph Asst. Professor, St. Joseph’s Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology Pala. regy@sjihmct.ac.in