Tourism is today recognized as a social phenomenon which brings mankind closer to different social values, cultural heritage and customs. Successful tourism development imbibes the values of recognizing the sustainability of natural resources and the socio-cultural ethos of the land.

Kerala has inculcated several measures to be followed by tourists to sustain the pristine beauty of God's Own Country and to conserve and protect its natural bounty. The focus of promotion of tourism in Kerala is channelized with a vision that aims at sensitizing and educating tourists/visitors on various measures that has to be followed to preserve God's gift to man - Nature.

The importance of responsible tourism based on conservation-preservation is the key to Kerala's tourism policies and this is made evident in the guidelines set by Kerala Tourism for tour operators and the tourists who visit this land that has lured travelers through the centuries.

Travellers Guidelines for Responsible Tourism

• Do an in-depth research on the customs and practices of God's Own Country before you plan your visit
• Appreciate the culture of the land and its tradition
• Be polite to the native people and appreciate their habits
• Learn a few basic words of greetings and polite phrases in the native language before your visit
• Respect the diverse religious and social customs of Kerala
• Observe the local laws and codes of the land
• Try to actively involve yourself in the cultural and environmental concerns of Kerala and cooperate accordingly
• Avoid trying to purchase or own things which are not legally permissible or might be protected
• Do not force entry into prohibited or restricted areas that will disrupt the ecology or the cultural sentiments of the land
• Conserve energy by minimizing the use of fans, lights, geysers etc. whenever not required
• Avoid overuse, wastage and pollution of water, contributing to the global conservation of water resources
• Avoid littering public places and ensure that waste is disposed only in bins earmarked for the purpose

Pre-Departure Guidelines for visitors to Sanctuaries

• Maximum size of visitors group for trekking will be 9
• Guests shall not bring pets, i.e. dogs, cats etc. inside any park or reserve
• Do not collect any form of fauna or flora from any sanctuary or park
• Be aware of the negative aspects of insensitive behaviour, such as taking photographs of people without their consent or failure to observe local customs
• Do not interfere with scientific research, facilities or equipment
• Be aware of your capabilities and the dangers posed by the trip
• Dress codes to be followed
• Do not damage plants - for example by walking, driving, or landing on extensive moss beds or lichen-covered areas
• Keep noise to the minimum to avoid frightening wildlife
• Do not bring non-native plants or animals into the park
• Be aware of the location of areas that have been accorded special protection and of any restrictions regarding entry and activities that can be carried out in and around the area
• Be aware of applicable restrictions and regulations of the site
• Do not damage, remove or destroy historic sites or monuments, or any artifacts associated with them
• Please ensure that necessary permission is obtained before visiting
• Maintain a safe distance from all wildlife
• Do not stray from group
• Do not disturb any animal by making noises, flashing lights or making any sudden movements that may frighten animals
• Do not chase animals
• Be aware that too much noise disturbs the wildlife and can antagonize other visitors
• Do not damage vegetation or any fencepost, gate or signpost in the park
• Be aware that plant damage can be irreplaceable resulting in loss of feeding and breeding grounds
• Do not remove flora and fauna. Removal of these seriously disrupts the ecosystem and is illegal
• Do not buy animal products as souvenirs as this encourages further plundering of these species
• Always remain inside your accommodation at night
• Be aware that the animals are wild and can be dangerous
• Do not remain in the parks or reserves between 7 pm & 7 am unless accommodation is provided
• Do not discard any foodstuff or litter the land and water bodies
• Do not hand-feed fish and animals
• Do not feed, touch or handle birds and animals; do not approach or photograph them in ways that may cause them to alter their behaviour
• Take special care when animals are breeding or moulting

Jungle Rules - General Do's and Don'ts

• Total silence and discipline is required to spot wild animals
• Small groups are preferred
• Early mornings and late afternoons are the ideal time to visit forests
• Travelling alone is prohibited especially in the Elephant Reserves
• Do not wear colourful clothes or perfumes. Khakis, browns and greens are best suited
• Always carry drinking water, tea/coffee, snacks etc.
• Seek the assistance of a forest guard while going into the forests
• Do not disturb or tease animals
• Trekkers are advised to use jungle boots to ensure safety
• Carry a first aid kit with medicines for common ailments
• Avoid smoking
• Radios and tape recorders are to be avoided
• Do not litter the surroundings
• Respect animals and their habits
• Do not remove anything from the Sanctuary
• Carry a note pad, flash light, road maps, bus, train and airline time-tables
• Do not try to explore unfamiliar things
• Be careful during boat rides. Don't do anything that will rock the boat or endanger lives
• Do not expect to see animals all the time. Be patient

Guidelines for Tour Operators

• Prepare definite pre-departure programmes
• Awareness modules to be distributed among the tourists before their departure to the destination (This should include Culture, History, Food habits, Climate, Responsible travel tour programmes, Health care’s, Do's and Don'ts, Dress code etc. - information to be relevant, brief and communicative)
• Fix group size for all programmes taking care of the carrying capacity of the destination. Tour packages to be made according to the group size
• Detailed information to be given to tourists on arrival at the destination (continuation of the awareness programme - Interactive sessions, audiovisual presentations, Environmental films, Printed materials etc.)
• All escorted tours should have tour managers. They are responsible for ensuring that privacy and dignity of areas visited is maintained
• Prevention of cultural impacts should be part of awareness programmes (Special mention on Dress codes, Thorough filtering of tourists to sensitive areas, Handouts of culture shocks, Family binding, Customs etc. to be well communicated.)
• Promote the appreciation of religious places and respect of local culture by discouraging the purchase of religious objects or heirlooms
• Camp fire and open fires should be discouraged to prevent deforestation
• Indigenous plant saplings may be taken and tourists should be encouraged to plant them near the campsites or on the trails
• Campsites to be left clean and all non-biodegradable garbage carried back for proper disposal
• No cuttings, seeds or roots of plants should be allowed to be taken away from the sanctuaries, that is illegal in many reserves