| An Interactive Session was organized
on the topic “Urbanisation and Tourism in Kerala”
at Bangalore International Centre on Saturday, the 28th
June, 2008 at 6 PM , Dr. Annapurna Garimella, Designer
and Art Historian delivered talk on the subject with power
point presentation. Prof. P K Michael Tharakan, Shri Ramakrishna
Hegde Chair in Decentralisation and Governance, ISEC,
presided over the session.
Through a series of arresting and captivating photographs,
which were screened simultaneously with her talk, Dr.
Garimella outlined the imaginative way in which both
domestic tourism and international tourism has been
developed around the backwaters of Kerala. The boost
in the local economy however has remained limited and
confined to certain areas. Dr. Garimella also outlined
the growth of certain attitudes and approaches against
the mode of dressing of international tourists, particularly
beachwear. Certain areas in the backwaters, pointed
out Dr. Garimella, have been over-exposed and over-publicised
in comparison to other areas which are equally beautiful,
if not more. By an large, efforts have been made to
preserve the heritage buildings and construction and
to give traditional facades to even new constructions.
By and large, private participation in the growth of
tourism in Kerala has been exemplary.
The Talk was followed by a lively interactive session
in which the select audience participated enthusiastically.
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