Tourism Dept seeks report as video of foreign tourists cleaning Fort Kochi beach goes viral

KERALA Tourism Department has sought a report from authorities concerned over an incident in which foreign tourists cleaned the premises of Fort Kochi. The move comes as the visuals of the incident got widely shared on social media. 

According to Mathrubhumi, the visuals show tourists, including those from other countries, filling sacks with garbage littered on the beach premises.

Locals also kept a written message above the sacks, urging the visitors to ensure hygiene of the region.

The tourists joined the clean-up drive organized by the All Kerala Tour Guides Association president.

The video of the incident went viral on social media. Following this, district administration and Kochi Corporation received flak.

It may be noted that the Heritage Zone Conservation Society has been entrusted with the maintenance of hygiene in the region. However, locals allege that the maintenance has been poor.

Recently, Tourism Minister Mohammed Riyas said that the state needs to realise the potential of beach tourism sufficiently and the government intends to move forward by linking tourist places along the state’s vast seacoast spread across nine of its 14 districts.