The remarkable growth of Tourism industry has made it imperative for countries to look at tourism development in a new light, so as to maximize the benefits, minimize the impacts of tourism on the social, cultural and natural fabric of the land and adopt practices and policies that are responsible and sustainable. Aimed at creating more awareness about the responsible tourism practices across the world and charting the way ahead is the Incredible India Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations, being organised by Kerala Tourism and International Centre for Responsible Tourism (India), with India Tourism as partner. Venue: Le Meridien, Kochi, Kerala 21st March - Academic Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations 22nd -24th March - Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations.

A sequel to the Cape Town Conference held in 2002, the Kerala Conference will look at the development of Responsible Tourism during the last 5 years in diverse contexts. Apart from sharing experiences in destinations, properties and businesses across the world, the Conference will also focus attention on initiatives and practices across destinations in India. The efforts of Kerala tourism in this direction will also be explored in the Conference.

The Conference will be a key global initiative to help the tourism industry and all its stakeholders to discuss and debate important developments in the field. For the participants, the meet will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about what has been achieved worldwide on responsible tourism and how to move the agenda forward. The Conference will emphasise discussions through experience sharing and case studies, and provide a forum for constructive interaction between practitioners.

Kerala, the venue of the Conference, has been acclaimed as "a bizarre anomaly among developing nations, a place that offers real hope" (Bill McKibben, National Geographic Traveler) for its socio-economic development. Renowned as God's Own Country, the land has chartered its own course in tourism too. And behind its inspiring success story are homegrown hotel chains and entrepreneurs - ensuring that a major portion of the tourism revenue is retained in the State, thus enriching the local community. The State is also home to several working models of responsible tourism practices like the Periyar Tiger Trail, a programme conducted by a team of poachers-turned-protectors and Lullaby@Varkala that seeks to create a symbiotic relationship between tourism and the local populace.