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Kochi: Village homes get ready with Onam feast

1600 households in state register with Responsible Tourism for hosting guests.

Kochi: Come Onam, tourists visiting the state could relish quality homely food at remote scenic hamlets.

The ‘Experience Ethnic Cuisine’ initiative being launched by the Responsible Tourism Mission has received good response with the maximum households registered under the project hailing from Ernakulam district.

The project aims to convert rural villages into tourist centres where households in tie up with the Kerala Tourism will prepare traditional cuisines for tourist groups.

“We’re heartened by the response for the project with 1600 households registering under the programme before the deadline of July 25. The maximum 453 households are from Ernakulam district. We target to complete the remaining process quickly and launch the initiative running in a month’s time,” K. Rupesh Kumar, state co-ordinator, Responsible Tourism Mission, told DC.

The authorities have started inspecting facilities of the applicants and final nod will be given to the home units which adhere to the minimum specified conditions. They will have to undergo one-day training, too.

“Both foreign and domestic tourists could plan their site visit trips so as to enjoy home cooked traditional food at houses of the select local natives. We’ll identify the food network and link the same to the tourism website and app. The details such as entrepreneur’s location, phone number and photo will be available there. The tourists can book one or two days before their journey and plan the trip accordingly,” the official said.

One of the planned hub in the district is Kadamakudy. While entrepreneurs can decide on food prices, the tourism department will continuously monitor quality of cuisines.

“Hygiene is one criterion for selection besides infrastructure facilities and ambience of the locality. In hamlets like Kadamakudy, we encourage applicants to set up facilities like live fish catching, cage fishing and provide tourists the facility of small snake boat trips,” said Rajkumar, joint director, tourism regional office. There will be facility on the tourism website for tourists to lodge any complaints, including food quality, with regard to the home units. “We’ll conduct a probe and blacklist such units if the charges are found to be true,” he said.

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