Although Kerala is renowned for its pristine beaches and tranquil backwaters, it’s the sprawling hill stations that are now shouldering the heaviest burden of the state’s booming tourism industry.
Kerala Tourism has made remarkable strides, largely propelled by a significant increase in domestic visitors. In 2024, the state recorded a new high of 2.22 crore domestic tourists. However, data from the Forests Department reveals a critical trend: roughly one-third of all tourists visiting Kerala’s scenic spots are flocking to sensitive ecotourism centers, predominantly nestled within the hills of protected forests.
To put this into perspective, in 2024, 80 ecotourism centers located in protected areas managed by the Forest Department welcomed approximately 72 lakh tourists, mostly domestic. This figure marks a steady increase from 68.68 lakh in 2023 and 56.37 lakh in 2022. This undeniable preference for hill stations by domestic tourists is striking, considering Kerala’s diverse attractions, including its unspoiled 580 km coastline and enchanting backwaters.
N. Badusha, president of the Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti (WPSS), voiced his concerns, stating that all these hill-based ecotourism centers are situated deep within the core of protected forest areas. He emphasized that no comprehensive scientific studies have been undertaken by any agency to establish safe limits for the number of vehicles and tourists allowed into these environmentally fragile regions.
Notably, ecotourism centers in Wayanad, one of Kerala’s most ecologically vulnerable districts, remained closed for around two and a half years. This closure followed a legal challenge by the WPSS in the Kerala High Court against the Forest Department’s decision to permit an uncontrolled influx of tourists. While these centers have recently reopened, authorities have since implemented strict restrictions on visitor numbers at any given time.
Following significant public outcry, the department initiated an assessment of the carrying capacity for 18 ecotourism destinations. An agency has also been tasked with determining the maximum permissible number of visitors for other selected sites, meticulously evaluating physical, real, and effective carrying capacities in line with the Guidelines for Ecotourism in and around Protected Areas, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in June 2011. Safety and destination audits are currently in progress at many ecotourism centers.
Tourism stakeholders widely acknowledge that unrestricted ‘mass tourism’ ultimately harms both the industry and the local economy, undermining the natural tranquility and appeal of these destinations. It’s also important to note that the Forest Department counts tourists by headcount, while the Tourism Department bases its data on hotel occupancy, leading to differing statistical perspectives on visitor volumes.