The Yaanam 2025 travel literary festival, hosted by Kerala Tourism, concluded on Sunday with a soul-stirring slide guitar performance by Prakash Sontakke.
The three-day event truly embodied its theme, ‘Celebrating Words and Wanderlust.’ It featured captivating discussions with prominent travel writers, vloggers, and social media personalities from around the globe. These participants also shared their insights on how to further promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development.
During a session titled ‘An Administrator’s Tale’ on the festival’s final day, former Chief Secretary Venu V. highlighted that tourism and knowledge-based service sectors are crucial for propelling Kerala’s economy to new heights. Dr. Venu, in conversation with journalist and author Binoo K. John, stated that ‘the State has firmly established itself as a vibrant hub where investments promise excellent returns.’ When asked about Kerala’s standing compared to other well-known destinations in the country, Dr. Venu cautioned against direct comparisons with places that have historically excelled in specific tourism niches and enjoyed a strong international market presence for extended periods.
However, he emphasized that Kerala Tourism’s recent promotional efforts have been highly successful, leading to a significant increase in visitor numbers and investments. Dr. Venu, who played a key role in developing and marketing tourism both locally and nationally, added that Kerala is rapidly becoming a sought-after destination for ‘Destination Weddings,’ even in a highly competitive market.
In a discussion on wildlife conservation and sustainable travel, wildlife photographer Balan Madhavan pointed out that the current focus on ecotourism is causing a surge in visitors to protected forests, which significantly impacts their natural environment and wildlife. He stressed that ‘substantial changes are urgently needed in the standards governing ecotourism activities.’
Expeditionary cyclist and author Dhruv Bogra, speaking to delegates, underscored the importance for bicycle riders to master fear when exploring challenging terrains and unknown lands, in addition to maintaining robust physical and mental strength. Mr. Bogra recounted his 400-day solo cycling journey from the Arctic to the Andes in 2016, noting, ‘Dealing with your fears involves many elements. You must bravely face harsh weather conditions and challenging landscapes with confidence.’
On the sidelines of the festival, Tibetan activist and award-winning writer Tenzin Tsundue advocated for conscious travel, urging tourists to be mindful and respectful of local communities and cultures. He expressed concern that modern tourism is often marketed as a product to simply consume. He observed, ‘The lives and traditional livelihoods of local communities in tourist destinations like the Himalayas and Uttarakhand are being disrupted by an influx of tourists. Large structures are being built on traditional farmlands, without considering the ecological impact, to accommodate the overwhelming number of visitors.’