In 2002, alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development being held in Cape Town, Responsible Tourism was defined as "making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit." Responsible Tourism relies on three tenets, known as the Triple Bottom Approach—economic responsibility, socio-cultural responsibility, and environmental responsibility—to curate experiences for travellers such that the welfare of the local communities and their economic advancement is enhanced.
Although the state of Kerala's tryst with Responsible Tourism began as early as 2008, it was in 2017 that the mission gained momentum. Under this mission, the tourism department and the government took measured steps to ensure community development objectives and establishing tourism trade-community linkages are achieved. Through many initiatives, the state is headed towards transforming Kerala as the first Sustainable Tourism State.
It is in the villages of Kerala that sustainability comes into action and is practically a way of life. To get a glimpse of this village life experience, the department has thoughtfully designed Experiential Tourism Packages for visitors to the state. Located in the western part of Kochi, Kumbalangi is one such village where you can witness how the villagers' livelihoods are rooted in and intertwined with sustainable practices. Since coconut trees are ubiquitous in the region, people have mastered using them for different reasons. The coconut trees are essentially the axis around which the lives of Kumbalangi's residents revolve.
Not only are ripe coconuts used in food or to make many by-products like coconut milk and toddy, but the leftover parts of it are also repurposed into utilitarian objects like coir. Once you break open a coconut, the outer shell is first soaked in water for a few days. After that, it is beaten till the fibres separate and magically spun into coir using a manually operated wheel-like machine.
The dried leaves of the coconut trees are also woven into baskets - these baskets have a unique usage around the village, as they are used to separate the meat from the shells of the clam. Even in this process, the shells are not disposed of but kept in the sun for a few days until they can be made into calcitic lime.
The leaves of the coconut trees are also used to make brooms. The leaf is slashed through carefully such that the thick end of it remains, which is then dried till it is fit to be tied together and used as a broom. Earlier, the leaves were also interwoven to make roofs, but due to their short lifespan, its usage has significantly declined.
Across villages in Kerala such as Kumbalangi, daily needs and lives continue to revolve around activities and practices rooted in sustainability. These practices continue to possess a strong hold over the lives and livelihoods - not only what they make are used in their households, but are also sold in the market.
Getting There: Kumbalangi is a backwater village located on the outskirts of Kochi, in the Ernakulam district. It can be reached easily via local buses or private taxis.