Seventh International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

Globalization has brought together communities transcending all the borders, and it has resulted in people becoming familiar with communities who are unfamiliar till then, that is, cultural introduction with ‘others’. The diminishing boundaries between communities are realized in terms of tourism activities that promote the local culture through the display of its uniqueness, similarities and relatedness by creating curiosity among the visitors for the native culture. So the native versus non-native cultural affinity could be seen as the foundation on which cultural sustainability could be realized. However, cultural sustainability is defined as a way of exploitation of cultural expressions without either damaging or eroding the resources for the sake of the sustainability of the native community with the support of agencies that facilitate cultural sustainability. By referring to folklore items that are potential enough for tourism promotion, this study explores the inevitability of tourists to possess responsibility not only in respecting the cultural ethos of native culture, but also in protecting the traditions from the dilution and erosion. Thus, this study considers strategies that both the organizing agencies as well as the community representatives must have in order to meet the demand and satisfy the tourists and fulfilling the economic viability of the community, but at the same time without compromising on the essence of the form and tradition. So by drawing elements from across the globe, it provides a model framework that ensures the responsibilities of tourists for ensuring them in the context of Kerala.