District Tourism Promotion Council
The AB Model in tourism promotion has found its best manifestation in the concept of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPCs). The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) was first launched in Kollam District in 1985 with people's initiative. This initiative made tourism promotion, the concern of the local people who are more committed to preservation of their environment, prevention of pollution of backwaters and conservation of their lifestyle and heritage. The District Tourism Promotion Council provided the necessary organizational outfit for promotion of domestic tourism with least infringement on environment and culture. The District Tourism Promotion Council is based on the principle that the people know best what is good for them. People's pressure has helped to prevent distortions in the implementation of tourism promotion ventures. The vast employment potentials of the tourism sector could also be utilized to the optimum for the benefit of the local people through the Tourism Promotion Councils. The Government of Kerala studied this experiment at Kollam and decided to set up similar councils in all districts in the State. The Tourism Promotion Councils have emerged as the focal point of tourism development in Kerala and are being adopted in other states of India.
