World Tourism Day falls on 27th September. This year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” spotlights the growing importance of environmentally conscious travel. Sustainable tourism is all about making mindful choices – minimising harm to the planet and local communities while creating positive, lasting benefits for generations to come.
The unregulated and uncontrolled flow of tourists into Kodagu is a cause for serious concern. The numbers from the Tourism Department suggests an increase from 8.45 lakhs in 2020, 27.3 lakh in 2022, 43.7 lakhs in 2024 and 25.2 lakhs up to August 2025. This compares with 25 Lakhs visitors to Mussoorie last year and they are crying hoarse. In the past few years, Kodagu is the third most “searched” tourist destination by Indians and amongst the Top 10 destinations in the world. A rich history going back 3,000 years, breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, game sanctuaries, shade grown coffee plantations, rich and distinctly unique culture, delicious food and legendary hospitality – makes it a perfect getaway.
Clearly these numbers are way beyond what the fragile district can sustain and prevent in terms of infrastructure, resources, accommodation, policing, environmental and cultural damage. To make matters worse, a substantial proportion of day-trippers who drive carelessly/dangerously, have little respect for local customs and make it impossible for local residents to conduct their daily routine. Petty theft, aggressive behaviour and a sense of “entitlement” are serious matters to contend with.
The World Travel Market has adopted the Cape Town Declaration definition of Responsible Tourism for its World Responsible Tourism Day which encourages the industry to take responsibility for making tourism more sustainable and demonstrate their responsibility. The Cape Town Declaration recognises that Responsible Tourism takes a variety of forms, it is characterised by travel and tourism which:
- minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts;
- generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;
- involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;
- makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world’s diversity;
- provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
- provides access for people with disabilities and the disadvantaged;
- is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.
Behaviour can be more or less responsible and what is responsible in a particular place depends upon environment and culture. In Kodagu – respect for our culture; preserving our heritage and green environment; keeping our rivers and streams clean; proper etiquette – takes precedence. In particular – there is absolutely no need nor justification for any further five star and non-local resorts. These entities follow protocols that have no respect nor benefits for local communities. They have no understanding nor commitment for the longer term sustainability of our culture, landscape, with minimal employment of local resources.
In contrast, the need of the hour is community monitored enhancements to local Homestay arrangements that are well regulated and provide predictable levels of Coorg Experience and hospitality, that the District is known for. Coorg Hotels and Resorts Association (COHERA) should take the lead and work with the District Administration on a proactive, professional and well-intentioned plan. Best practices from the rest of the country and for that matter from across the globe, should be encouraged. It is in that context that the reference to Victor Dey, provided in the thoughtful article by Navin Bopaiah takes importance.
The CLN News desk spoke to various stakeholders about how tourism could be better managed. There were a number of observations and suggestions, which we have tried to capture below:
- There is an immediate need to curb the number of tourists coming into the district – 5 million is way beyond the capacity that the infrastructure can handle. Traffic jams over the weekend, careless driving on pot-holed ridden roads and unruly behaviour by day-trippers have made life difficult for the local residents.
- COHERA has identified around 500 properties – Hotels and Resorts who have subscribed to the Association. There is a well curated action plan to improve the quality of accommodation and services in the district, with visible commitment and measures to improve the image of the place in terms of garbage free environment, discipline, regulations, safety, etc
- A similar initiative needs to be undertaken by Coorg Homestays Association. At present, there is no formal rating system that is in place that makes it difficult for well-meaning tourists to stay at their preferred choices. Perhaps an independent system can be created to rate all homestays into different categories on guidelines similar to Airbnb.
- There is a dire need for a Hotel and Homestay Management Institute to train, create and upgrade skills across every aspect of the hospitality industry. An educated guess is that around 10,000 jobs could be made available to “local” people. The current numbers are abysmally low. Equally, job seeking local residents have to inculcate a sense of discipline and work ethic which will otherwise result in manpower from outside the district/state occupying jobs that should have been naturally undertaken by local residents.
- A large, protracted and open-ended festival like Dussehra creates an unnecessary burden on the people and Administration alike. Dussehra is predominantly a festival conducted in Mysore. An unusually large number of visitors from nearby towns and cities attend the evening rath processions in Madikeri and other nearby cities and towns in an inebriated state. Despite the best intent of the District Administration, it is genuinely unsafe as the festivities gather momentum. Make it a festival for locals and limit the external participations to the minimum possible. The towns are left in an awful garbage strewn condition.
READERS ARE REQUESTED TO SEND IN THEIR SUGGESTIONS WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED by US AND A SIMPLE MEETING WITH THE DC CAN BE ARRANGED ALONGWITH COHERA FOR JOINTLY ADDRESSING THE OPPORTUNITY THAT TOURISM PRESENTS, WHILE OVERCOMING THE PROBLEM AREAS.
– CLN Newsdesk
Amongst the earliest of true Colonial style plantation homestays initiated and managed by Victor and Ranjini Dey, Tranquil Resort – Plantation Hideaway was much as it sounded – a peaceful evergreen forest haven with the efficiency of a resort and the intimacy of a ‘homestay’. The quintessential greeting was like that of old friends by the hosts and it was difficult not to relax at Tranquil Resort. They went on to start their own property – Amaryllis (https://amarylliskerala.com/homestay-experience/).
The concept of homestays, took deep roots in Kodagu and later spread to other coffee-growing districts in Karnataka. In Kodagu, it has witnessed a significant transformation over the years. Initially envisioned as a means to empower housewives, homestays also provided small planters with an additional source of seasonal income to help sustain their livelihoods. Homestays have now evolved into a full-fledged commercial opportunity. Over time, this opportunity has led to an influx of non-domicile individuals from other regions and neighboring states, gradually diluting the original charm and cultural essence of the Coorg homestay experience.
This somewhat uncontrolled boom in the homestays opportunity has had serious repercussions on varying standards of quality, lowering of rates and a fall in standard of the quality of tourists, who take advantage of the situation. One remembers the Deys’ complaining about this phenomenon – they had recommended a proper Planters Initiative of setting standards and an appropriate rating system for accommodation, food, hygiene, experiences and quality. They reiterated the importance of “experiences”, because if the tourists is let loose to do whatever they want, without an itinerary, it will result in chaos. This ensures a higher quality of tourist flow who will focus on the rich offerings of the District – natural trails, heritage walks, temple visits, monsoon attractions of waterfalls and streams – the idea is to get the guests to follow a predictable itinerary. The recommendation fell on deaf ears and the ensuing chaos of the homestay business is mired by opportunistic price-cutting, falling standards and a category of drunken and unruly tourists.
Recognizing the growing importance of homestays, the Karnataka government has introduced regulatory measures to ensure their proper functioning. However, these new rules may inadvertently impact genuine domicile residents who depend on homestays for their livelihood. It is, therefore, imperative for the government to strike a balance between regulation and support for local communities.
Given the Kodava community’s well-known hospitality and culinary traditions, the government must take steps to identify and support genuine local homestay operators. Simplifying the documentation process for permanent residents and implementing stricter guidelines for non-local entrants could help protect the authenticity and sustainability of homestays. Such an approach would ensure that the benefits of tourism are equitably distributed and that the region’s cultural heritage remains intact.
Environmental Considerations and Sustainable Tourism
While imposing a complete ban on tourism is neither practical nor desirable, it is vital to strike a sustainable balance between tourism and the region’s ecological capacity.
Key measures to support this objective include:
- Implementing an entry pass system during weekends and holiday season to regulate tourist inflow and reduce pressure on local infrastructure.
- Capping the number of vehicles entering ecologically sensitive areas, particularly during peak periods.
- Promoting eco-friendly tourism and encouraging responsible travel etiquette among visitors.
- Investing in sustainable infrastructure that meets the needs of both locals and tourists.
- Enforcing a Single Use Plastic-Free Tourism Policy for Sustainable Waste Management. To maintain ecological balance, protect our rivers from pollution and preserve the region’s natural beauty, it is imperative to adopt an integrated and sustainable approach to garbage management, including enforcing a strict ban on tourists carrying Single Use plastic into Kodagu.
- Encouraging off-season tourism to better distribute tourist activity throughout the year.
By adopting a proactive and sustainability-focused approach, the Karnataka Tourism Department and the state government can protect Kodagu’s natural beauty while supporting local livelihoods. This model can serve as a benchmark for other regions seeking to balance tourism growth with cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
A final thought and recommendation – there was a time when every home had a small vegetable garden that more or less provided the family kitchen with a variety of organic and healthy vegetables. Sadly this practice has more or less disappeared. Most Homestays in the North East, Himachal, Kashmir and Ladakh boast of a small patch of this ubiquitous vegetable garden. This is a perfect example of “farm-to-table” demonstration for good impact at each Homestay. This would make a huge statement to the true meaning of a Homestay Experience!
This article has really made me think. If the tourist footfall has indeed increased from 8 Lakhs in 2020 to 50+ Lakhs expected this year, the incremental GST revenues for the Centre and State from their spend, including just the GST charged on room rentals, should be upwards of Rs 200 Crs – maybe even Rs 500 Crs.
If that be the case, Organisations like COHERA should request the District Administration, especially Mr Venkat Raja who is an extremely bright and affable gentleman, to reinvest at least 50% into genuinely improving infrastructure. I am sure that responsible community organisations will participate to share responsibility; with a caveat – keep all political appointees out of contention. This is a citizen’s initiative. We could request retired Armed Forces Personnel, IAS and Senior Corporate Professionals to lend a hand. If each Ur, Keri and Nad send volunteers to oversee proper spend of projects that are discussed and agreed – it would make such an enormous impact to root out corruption and ensure end use of money.
POMMALE KODAGU – is it what we are now??
This is the sad state of Responsible Tourism which has led to this sad state of our precious reserve forests. Resorts/ Home stay Owners must educate the tourists while taking bookings and also take a written “pledge” not to pollute the landscape.
The District Administration if Kodagu should take initiative to educate tourists alongwith COHERA. Stiff penalties for throwing garbage, properly monitored CC TV at important spots, should be implemented.
Tourism bodies like Department of Tourism, Karnataka Tourism Forum, Karnataka Tourism Society – widespread educative programs should be undertaken.
Kodagu is not a place for land speculators and rapid revenue generation for investors. It has a fragile and very sensitive eco system that is part of the most important biosphere – the Western Ghats.
Every TDH wants to invest in Kodagu, Locals wants to sell land and move to cities – this has to be stopped.
Posting 2 pictures one is of Buo Tong Waterfalls, Chiang Mai and other of Surlabhi falls. Both are highly visited by Tourists.. Can we ever be clean like picture postcard Thailand? Yes we can – because when we visit these countries we put on our best behaviour!
Coorg is thriving. Tourism is boosting our economy, bringing jobs and growth.
But something’s being lost…
We’ve seen tourists littering everywhere — from tossing wrappers out of cars, to leaving garbage by viewpoints. We ourselves have had to ask people to turn back and clean up trash they threw. It shouldn’t be this way.
Let’s protect what we love.
✔ Put up more sign‑boards everywhere: “Do Not Litter”, “Respect Nature”, “Carry Back Your Waste”.
✔ More bins (properly maintained) in all tourist spots and along roads.
✔ Enforce small fines for littering, so the message is clear.
✔ Tourism bodies, homestays, hotels: please help spread this responsibility among visitors.
✔ Support Coorg tourism — but let’s make sure it is responsible, sustainable, and respects our land.
If we act together — locals, tourists, government — we can ensure Coorg remains beautiful and prosperous for generations to come.
I had written a response in a previous article ECOCIDE published by CLN – it remains relevant here too:
Go back in time – our ancestors had tremendous respect for Mother Nature, trees, Animals and believed that all of Natures creations were interconnected.
Kodagu had the greatest density of Devarkadus in the country. These sacred forests provided biodiversity, sheltered animals and somehow we did not witness the terrible menace of human-animal conflict as we witness today.
Uncontrolled tourism, opening of resorts, wetlands remaining fallow, garbage and the distinct impact of climate change have all had a draconian impact on the beautiful environment that Pommale Kodagu was legendarily known for.
The article is a wake up call to regenerate or regreen our forests, revitalise our water resources and most of all respect Nature. Else the future for our coming generations looks bleak.
This is precisely what should be STOPPED 🛑 at any cost – it will be annihilation if Kodagu like what happened and is happening in Ooty and Goa. Private plantations being converted to second homes for the fashionistas from Delhi and Mumbai. EvolveBack is already advertising large scale property development – which is NOT IN KEEPING with the respect for the terrain. And then we complain about elephant menace after blocking their ancient corridors for movement.
Can’t thank CLN enough for initiating a debate on the need to control and manage Tourism. People in Kodagu do not realise that the District will be obliterated the way visitors are coming to Kodagu. At these numbers, it is like locusts – they will wipe out the culture, promote indiscipline and chaos and make unreasonable demands.
It is in the interest OF ALL THE PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF KODAGU TO REDUCE THE FOOTFALL AND NUMBER OF VEHICLES – OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT SUSTAIN THIS OVERLOAD.
Follow the rules of Responsible Tourism that has been explained so clearly. The time to act is NOW. It is far more serious than getting together to celebrate Dussehra – a perfect example of how the celebrations have gone out of control. It is ruining Madikeri and Gonikoppal.
An extremely well-articulated article that highlights both the challenges and opportunities of tourism in Kodagu. Striking a balance between preserving our heritage, environment, and the genuine spirit of homestays while promoting responsible tourism is the way forward. The call for regulation, community involvement, and sustainable practices is both timely and essential.
I fully endorse the revival of small vegetable gardens at each home. This old custom makes so much sense. The children learn to grow vegetables and flowering plants, and the kitchen gets fresh vegetables rather than visiting the weekly shandy and storing the vegetables in Fridges that operate erratically with power outages.
Tourist numbers of 45 and 50 Lakhs per year is bad enough. But the reality is dealing with peak days – which is on long weekends, Dussehra and the month of December. On these occasions the run-rate is in excess of One Lakh, which is a terrifying number for this small district.
All the more reason why the Administration alongwith with Local Organisations should actively participate in effectively monitoring the numbers.
Have we really benefitted from tourism in Noryhern Kodagu? The locals have very little to offer in terms of amenities, so the economic benefits for us is negligible – in fact zero.
So there is a class of tourists who come to enjoy Surlabhi and other waterfalls and flowing streams that magically come to life in the monsoon. The place is unfortunately strewn with liquor bottles and food. This must be checked.
Now that the road has been done up to the foot of Kotebetta – a most holy place for us. They play loud music and leave the garbage for us locals to clear 😡 This is simply not acceptable and has to change .
We appreciate that Coffee Land is focusing on meaningful subjects like responsible tourism and the future of tourism in Coorg.
The homestay concept in Coorg was first initiated in the early 1990s by Apparanda Prakash and Apparanda Suresh, who named and introduced it as a means of generating parallel income, especially in the low coffee-yielding, high rainfall zones. Though it was initially a challenge to welcome unknown guests into one’s home, it laid the foundation for a unique hospitality model.
Resorts like Orange County, Cauvery Hotel, and Capitol Village also played a vital role in shaping Coorg as a tourism destination. Unfortunately, while local inhabitants once had the opportunity to take the lead in this industry, over time, control shifted to larger players and migrants.
Today, it is essential for the government to provide better infrastructure..wider roads, adequate parking facilities, and proper waste management systems. Tourism has become one of the main pillars of Coorg’s economy, and while challenges exist, locals still have an opportunity to benefit if the sector is managed responsibly.
Rather than stopping tourism, the focus should be on sustainable management that benefits local residents while protecting Coorg’s fragile ecosystem. Visitors to Coorg do not settle here permanently like in other industries; instead, they contribute revenue that circulates across businesses and communities.
It is important that local residents recognize and utilize tourism as an opportunity for parallel income, which will also help in addressing topographical and economic imbalances in the long run.
Prescriptive Government led initiatives with an overload of bureaucratic diktats seldom work. These administrators have no hands on experience. Instead the DC should set up a small working team to come up with an action-oriented, apolitical white paper to address the challenges and opportunities of Responsible Tourism. This could cover Homestays, Basic Infrastructure like Roads and Power, Temple Administration and Visitors Rules, Hospitality& Skills Training Institutes, Safety and Discipline – to name a few. The dynamic new COHERA Governing Body is ideally placed to work on this much needed initiative alongwith select community representatives. Keep politicians and political influence out of this exercise.
The penchant for circulating videos on social media is beyond explanation. The worst was experienced with the proposed Census where instead of focussing on the “intent” of the enumeration, so much mud slinging took place on matters relating to origin and religion of Kodavas.
It was interesting to see Prathik Ponnanna wax eloquently in “Hindi” regarding Dussehra celebrations in Madikeri and Gonikoppal. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BMiL5Y6Wg/
As is well understood – prevention is better than cure. Why have these ostentatious celebrations in Kodagu where the main festivals from time immemorial were Keilpodh, Cauvery Changrandi and Puthari. Dussehra was indeed celebrated even in our grandparents generation – but it was done with dignity and decorum. It was an intensely local affair with participants primary from the District.
It has now degenerated to uncontrolled revelry by people in drunken stupor.
Non availablilty of liquor due to shops being rightly closed is substituted by black marketed stock and illicit brews. The wreck left behind by the masses goes entirely against the tenor of our culture. Politicians, local leaders and Administrators must seriously give thought to restrict the numbers, impose strict fines for unruly drunken behaviour and reduce the participation to manageable numbers where only “locals” are allowed.
This is indeed part of Responsible Tourism. COHERA and Homestay Association should also take preventive action.
The District Administration should institute a tourist fee on all travellers. People who exit the district within reasonable time (3-4 hours) should be refunded.
This fee should fund management of all tourist spots with Tourist guides/marshall to ensure zero garbage.
The bane of unchecked and uncontrolled tourism has been the death of many hill stations and famous tourist destinations. This is one of the most important topics that has been thoroughly written about in this article which needs serious consideration and public/private debate resulting in actionable action. There should be serial follow-up articles on action taken – only then will the effort of proactively raising these matters make sense.
Awesome article. Very well elucidated.
Hope the govt wakes up and helps the planters who are preserving the environment culture and trying to make a decent living.
Co-ordinated action is the need of the hour for ensuring the success of the Homestay model. Self-governance through an efficient Community driven model should be implemented.
The problem with us Kodavas (and perhaps most Indians) is that we do not listen to one another and behave like crabs full of one-upmanship. But we will be silent followers to the words of any Politician or laws legislated without proper consultation.
Has there been any public private debate on what is the most appropriate form of tourism for Kodagu? Are Five star resorts relevant for Kodagu? Should Business Houses or Companies be allowed to convert plantations into commercial plots on a large scale?
Responsible Tourism as explained in the article should be the guiding force in determining a Tourism Policy for hill stations like Kodagu.
Nice article. From what I can see, the Coorgs can lead the way in creating a Homestay model that meets all the metrics of Responsible Tourism. When I visit game parks, there is no code of conduct. It must be the same at Nagarhole Tiger Sanctuary.
As much as the hosts have to raise the bar in providing comfortable infrastructure and interesting itineraries, visitors should take the trouble of etiquette in tourism appropriate to the places that they visit – game sanctuaries, temples, natural beautiful surroundings like waterfalls/rivers, treks and so on.
Great conversation should be converted into actionable ideas. There are many ideas in this expansive article that the likes of the District Administration led by a proactive Mr Venkat Raja and organisations like COHERA can work together to arrest the ill effects of uncontrolled and unchecked tourism.
Kodagu is ideally suited for showcasing Responsible Homestay Experiences instead of large resorts and people unfamiliar with the terrain mindlessly exploiting the precious landscape for commercial gain. Of course this entails guidance, serious training and mentoring of Homestay Owners – which at the moment is lacking. Homestays complements and sustains the planter’s dependence on the cyclical nature of agriculture based income. Homestays provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues.
I have written time and again about responsible tourism and preserving Homestay culture in Kodagu. Each article has been both a warning and a cry to save our fragile Homeland before it is too late.
Today that cry goes louder, because the numbers, the damage, and the indifference cannot be ignored any longer.
Kodagu has always welcomed guests with legendary Hospitality. But the need of the hour is regulated, community- driven tourism with local homestays, monitored eco’ tourism and cultural respect. COHERA and District Authorities must rise above profit and politics to protect what makes Kodagu truly special
Very extensive and well composed article that covers all the nuances of tourism and its impact on a precious ecosystem. The underlying theme of Responsible Tourism — that it should minimise negative economic, environmental and social impacts; generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the well-being of host communities; make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, and to the maintenance of the world’s diversity — are very critical inputs. 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬.
The receding green cover, unnecessary entry of irrelevant five-star resorts and hotels, uncontrolled entry of vehicles, and spiralling number of tourists has resulted in untold misery and damage to the environment and daily lives of local people. We must learn from the mistakes of the greed of tourism from other hill stations like Ooty, Simla, Mussoorie and, for that matter, other such attractive destinations in the world before irretrievably destroying our precious heritage.
This is a timely and well-articulated article on the realities of tourism in Kodagu. The surge in visitor numbers highlights both the opportunities and the serious challenges of unregulated inflow.
Beyond the strain on infrastructure, traffic, and safety, the deeper risk of eroding Coorg’s culture, heritage, and fragile environment is in danger.
Responsible and sustainable tourism is the way forward. Strengthening community rooted homestays, introducing a proper rating and regulatory system, investing in skill development for local youth, and adopting proper waste management are practical solutions. Curbing five-star and non-local resorts while promoting authentic Coorg experiences will ensure that benefits reach local families and that tourism remains an asset, not as a burden.
Equally important are steps such as regulating peak-season entries, need to discourage careless day-trippers, promoting eco-friendly practices, and encouraging farm-to-table experiences that showcase Kodagu’s traditions. With active collaboration between the Coorg Hotels and Resorts Association, homestay associations, and the district administration.
Kodagu can set a national model for sustainable tourism, one that preserves its natural beauty and legendary hospitality for generations to come.