• PRADEEPA P

Kerala has become one of the top tourism destinations and considered as the trendsetters in the country. The availability of natural resources and skilled laborers, strong local governments, helpful entrepreneurial community, multitude of small enterprises, streams of professionals and academicians, responsive tourism industry and responsible media give the state a perfect setting to implement and apply tourism. Rural Tourism that minimises negative social, economic and environmental impacts and generates greater economic benefits for local people. It gives the local people a sense of participation and socio-economic benefits. It is considered as a responsible path towards a sustainable future. It enables local people to enjoy a better quality of life through increased socio-economic benefits and improved national resource management. It provides various employment opportunities to enhance their wellbeing. Local people play a significant role in Rural Tourism that creates socio-economic development in the lives of the local community. Rural tourism is the way ahead for Kerala’s tourism industry.

People Participation, Rural Tourism, Socio-economic development, Tourism Industry, Kerala

"LOCAL PEOPLE PARTICIPATION IN RURAL TOURISM – A CASE OF KONNI PANCHAYAT IN KERALA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.620-626, June 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1908B79.pdf

"LOCAL PEOPLE PARTICIPATION IN RURAL TOURISM – A CASE OF KONNI PANCHAYAT IN KERALA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp620-626, June 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1908B79.pdf