Over the last few years, under the Barrier-Free Project, the Kerala
government has been working towards making all major tourist destinations
accessible and disabled-friendly. Now in a major announcement, Kerala Tourism
Minister K Surendran has said that all tourist spots will be covered under
the project, a statement that will be welcomed given how sought after this
state is by tourists across India and the world.
God’s Own Country just got that much more heavenly. In an
important announcement, coming just as the holiday season approaches, the
Kerala government’s move to make the state even more accessible to tourists
feels like news from the heaven. Given the barriers people with disabilities
face while traveling, the announcement that all tourist spots in Kerala will
be covered under the Barrier Free Project is great news
indeed.
What this will do is not just make Kerala even more appealing to tourists but
also set an example given that major tourist destinations across India remain
inaccessible. Given this scenario, there are hopes that Kerala will be a
change-maker. In a statement in the State Assembly, State Tourism
MinisterK Surendran even made a time commitment, saying all tourist
spots in Kerala will be made disabled-friendly by the year 2021.
Ninety-eight out of 120 tourist locations across the state have already
been made disabled- friendly. Works for the rest are in progress.
Facilities including special parking areas and accessible toilets will be
made available for tourists to enjoy their vacations. – K
Surendran, Tourism Minister, Kerala.
Members of the disability community have not surprisingly cheered the
announcement. The deadline they hope will be implemented as well. What has
brought greater happiness are the details spelt out by the Minister. The
government, he said, is also is working on the Responsible Tourism
Initiative under which special packages
Krishnakumar PS, a wheelchair user from Kollam, is an ardent
traveller and hopes this will address some of the loopholes that exist. “Some
of the prominent locations that I feel needs to be made disabled friendly are
Varkala cliff, backwater tourism, Athirappally and Munnar. Basically, a
person who has limited mobility must be able to check out all the places just
like a regular tourist. That is what inclusion is all about”.
Wheelchair user Sarath Padipura adds, “We do not want to be
stuck inside the four walls of our houses. Instead, we want to come out and
explore the world around us. We can do that only if the government takes up
initiatives to support us. People with disabilities are never included,
especially when it comes to tourism”.
Jisha MR, a wheelchair user from Kannur, is looking forward
to exploring the scenic beaches and temples. “When we go to beaches, I sit in
my car and enjoy it from the main road because there are no wheelchair ramps
or walkways through which I can enter the beach. I always feel that I could
have enjoyed things better if places were made more accessible. Even
prominent temples in Kerala are not disabled-friendly. They ask you to keep
wheelchairs outside”, she adds.
This is a demand that many organisations and disability rights leaders have
been asking for long. Recently, the All Kerala Wheelchair Rights
Federation (AKWRF) started a campaign to make tourist spots in the
state accessible and disabled-friendly at the earliest. Members from the
disabled community are now hoping for the best after the Minister’s
assurances.
Also Read: Kerala government successfully completes 1st phase of Barrier Free
Tourism Project
