An Economic Study of Rural Tourism in Kerala with Special Reference to Aranmula Balaramapuram and Kumbalangi

Abstract

Tourism is one of the key sectors in our country and in the recent past, the Government has newlinelaunched rural tourism initiatives to improve local economic development through tourism. newlineKerala is one of the States where tourism is a key revenue earning sector. However, this study newlinelooks into the cases of Aranmula, Balaramapuram and Kumbalangi villages in Kerala which newlinehave been identified as rural tourism sites by the Ministry of Tourism when it launched the newlinerural tourism scheme in the budget year 2002-2003. The study explores both the macro newlineperspective of the relationship between foreign exchange earnings from tourism with the newlineState GDP of Kerala and the employment generated in the State, as well as the micro newlineperspective of the tourism situation in the sample villages both from the villagers as well as newlinethe tourists perspectives. The study also identifies the challenges faced by the tourism sector newlinein these destinations and gives recommendations accordingly. newline