Wayanad, Saturday 10 July 2010: Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that the developments in the tourism sector should not blight the beauty of nature.

Inaugurating ‘Splash 2010,’ a three-day monsoon carnival being organised by the Wayanad Tourism Organisation, Kodiyeri said for the protection of nature and ecology, the government was implementing Responsible Tourism practices in the State.

He said the partners of the tourism industry could not move away from the responsibility.

The Minister said the State attracted the tourists mainly by its scenic beauty, and if anything spoiled that legacy, it would be the death knell of the tourism industry in the State.

Hence, the government decided to implement a systematic development approach for the development activities of the major tourism destinations.

As a part of the programme, the government would declare four tourism zones in the State – Wayanad, Fort Kochi, Kovalam and Munnar. The Tourism Department would draw up special master plans for the development of the zones, he said.