(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)
A three-day workshop jointly organised by the tourism department and the PWD presented the draft policy on 28 January.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating the workshop in presence of Tourism Minister PA Mohammad Riyas. (riyasdyfi/Twitter)
A draft design policy, prepared by a government-organised workshop held in Thiruvananthapuram, has recommended promoting auto rickshaws and their drivers as “ambassadors of tourism” in Kerala.
The three-day workshop, organised jointly by the Tourism and the Public Works Departments, presented the draft policy before Minister PA Mohammad Riyas on Saturday, 28 January, at the Craft Village near Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram.
Director of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, Prof Praveen Nahar, presented the draft, which recommended that the state enhance the utility and aesthetic appeal while designing infrastructure such as bridges, streets and public spaces among others.
“It also lays down a set of best practices to be followed while designing physical assets such as roads, bridges, streets, street furniture, signages and public spaces, which are crucial in enhancing the experience of tourists,” an official statement said.
Riyas, who handles both portfolios, said the new policy “will be implemented this year itself”.
Another significant footstep by @keralatourism. A workshop to formulate a comprehensive design policy draft for tourism and PWD is happening in TVM. #designpolicy #architecture #pwd pic.twitter.com/2whVfop2e6
— PA Mohamed Riyas (@riyasdyfi) January 27, 2023
The draft policy, released by the workshop titled ‘Design by Future’, has also recommended making all tourism destinations across Kerala women, children and pedestrian-friendly.
“…The suggestions include considering the auto-rickshaw as a product and drivers as ambassadors of tourism…standardisation of signages and lighting, integrating technology in communication and public spaces, creating design awareness at all levels, special package for traditional art performance spaces, craft design centres among others,” the release said.
The Kerala brand for arts and crafts, mapping of craft communities and a centralised data management tool for tourism and PWD are also among the suggestions, it said.
Riyas said he was “overwhelmed by the response on social media about the plan to bring in a design policy”, adding that the suggestions of people from all walks of life will be considered while finalising the policy, which will be “implemented this year itself”.
Kerala Tourism Director PB Nooh said the experts contributed immensely to the framing of the draft policy.
(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)
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