KOTTAYAM: Aymanam, a small village from Kerala is on the world tourism map as it combines greenery, birdwatching, local food, streams and art.
The model tourism village project has also been approved.
In Arundhati Roy’s Booker Prize-winning novel ‘God of Small Things’, she describes her hometown as Aymanam and the place became internationally famous after Kumarakom. It also won the World Travel Mart award last November. Ancient temples, shrines, Kathakali and Kalaripayat are some of the popular attractions of the place.
The project started in 2018. The project started under the leadership of Responsible Tourism State Co-ordinator K Roopeshkumar, is in its second stage. Village Life Package, Bird Watching Package, Village Travel, Cultural Packages, Paddy Walking and Cycle Tour have been implemented. The project was launched in 13 areas in the state.
Until now, the project provided job training to 817 locals118 employment ventures, have started Homestays, started Women Tour Community Leaders to implement packages Tourism resource directory and campaign videos have been created. Water lilly Fest Vembanad Sanitation for Waste Management.Cloth bags for houseboats and resorts to get rid of plastic
This is a recognition of the efforts made to popularize tourism and bring it to the forefront of the world in an environmentally friendly manner, said K. Rupesh Kumar, State Coordinator, Responsible Tourism Mission.
Aymanam was also included among the top 30 must visit places in the world in the world famous luxury travel magazine ‘Conde Nast Traveller’.
Aymanam is a place that is rich in culture and beauty. This international award is a great recognition for Responsible tourism project and inspires to start many such projects in future, said Tourism Minister Muhammed Riyas
