TOURISM CLUB AT SCHOOLS
Under
the auspices of Department of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala, Tourism Clubs
in Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges of Kerala has been
constituted as part of creating tourism awareness among the host
community. The objective was to empower the student community as the
Ambassidors of Kerala Tourism, thereby creating massive awareness on
the benefits of tourism among the families, societies and to open up
career opportunities in tourism sector. As part of streamlining the
activities of Tourism Clubs, Department of Tourism had entrusted
KITTS (Kerala Tourism and
Travel Studies) to co-ordinate and to strengthen the activities of
tourism clubs of the state.
Tourism
in Kerala is going through a significant phase of growth and
development. Setting up of Tourism Clubs in schools by the department
of tourism is aimed at creating proper awareness about tourism among
youth. Tourism Club provides platforms for more open expressions and
exchange of ideas regarding tourism related efforts. It promotes a
rational approach towards tourism, environment, nature and makes the
younger generation to participate in the developmental activities of
tourism. The Tourism Club can function under the guidance of District
Tourism Promotion Council.
Objectives
of Tourism club
- To inculcate traveling culture among students
- To minimize social problems among them
- To promote social integrity among the various communities in the area
- To encourage domestic tourism activities
Through
planned activities for educational purposes, it is expected that
teachers’ teaching and students’ learning are fostered. This is
important as students gain learning experiences which fit their
characteristics and produce expected educational, under the
constraints of curriculum goals, school goals and subject content. By
combining studying and traveling away from their home environment,
students can realize their need for recreation or diversion. It
provides students with a peek into the ‘back’ regions of their
society, thereby facilitating experiential, experimental or
existential modes of touristic experiences. Moreover, studies have
found out that significant learning can exist when unlearning takes
place, which often happens when students experience periods away from
their usual environment.
Of
particular importance is the assumption that travel results in more
cross-cultural understanding. This is particularly important in
Kerala, which is multi-cultural and multi-religion. In studying
these, social psychologists find that face-to-face interactions
between members of different groups reduce prejudices, although not
under all conditions (Pettigrew, 1998). Research also shows that, as
a result of travel, students are more adaptable, more independent in
their thinking, more aware of their home country and culture, and
better able to communicate with others (Klooster et al. 2008),
although the situations are more applicable to exchange students.
Activities
- Study Trip outside the district
- Study Trip within the district
- Study Trip within the locality or 'back' areas
- Camping
- Homestay
- Tourism Quiz
- Tourism Seminar
- Logo Competition
- Career Talk
- Drawing Competition
- Dramatization of the History
- Making presentations/documentaries of culture and history of the locality
- Enumerating important people, places, monuments, cultural events and festivals
- Naming a place and giving one good characteristic of the place that makes one proud of it.
- Prepare brochure/posters for the slelcted space connected with local and national culture and heritage.
- Exchanging ideas on one’s responsibility towards the city, state, nation and world.
- Planning field trips
- Journalizing one’s plan on serving the locality and the city
- Community reading of travelling experiences/books/classic novels/classic travelogues
- Screening of films like Motor cycle diaries, Riding solo to the top of the world (Gaurav A Zhani),
- Writing travelogues, pamphlets, brochures, posters etc
- Adopting an area for inland toruism like Vazhiyorakkatt
Learning
expectations from students
They
provide a chance for students to develop intellectually and socially
in relatively informal settings. Linking learning styles and
experiential learning with nonformal education settings can provide
new insights to the practice of continuing education when developing
co-curricular activities. The activities organized by Tourism Clubs
foster teachers’ teaching and students’ learning. Students can
gain learning experiences which fit their characteristics and
learning environment. By engaging in the activities, it is expected
that students are more adaptable, more independent in their thinking,
more aware of their home society, state and country and culture,
better able to communicate with others, and more sensitive to other
cultures.
- Increase knowledge on tourism destinations in the country
- Increase awareness on environmental conservation
- Increase societal awareness
- Increase awareness on recreational needs
- Increase knowledge through experience
- Increase knowledge through outdoor activities
- Increase cultural and community integration and harmony
- Increase in application of leadership skills
- Increase in relation with clubmates
- Progress in communication Skills
- Increased self-Initiative
Types
of constraints to be expected
- Time constraint
- Financial constraint
- Workload from academic subjects
- Commitment from other co-curriculum activities
- Inactive Teacher’s Coordinators and teachers' disbelief in students
- Discouraging support from family
- Inactive committee members
