School Tourism club

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

1. To inculcate traveling culture among students
2. To minimize social problems among them
3. To promote social integrity among the various communities in the area
4. 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

1. Study Trip outside the district
2. Study Trip within the district
3. Study Trip within the locality or 'back' areas
4. Camping
5. Homestay
6. Tourism Quiz
7. Tourism Seminar
8. Logo Competition
9. Career Talk
10. Drawing Competition
11. Dramatization of the History
12. Making presentations/documentaries of culture and history of the locality
13. Enumerating important people, places, monuments, cultural events and festivals
14. Naming a place and giving one good characteristic of the place that makes one proud of it.
15. Prepare brochure/posters for the slelcted space connected with local and national culture and heritage.
16. Exchanging ideas on one’s responsibility towards the city, state, nation and world.
17. Planning field trips
18. Journalizing one’s plan on serving the locality and the city
19. Community reading of travelling experiences/books/classic novels/classic travelogues
20. Screening of films like Motor cycle diaries, Riding solo to the top of the world (Gaurav A Zhani),
21. Writing travelogues, pamphlets, brochures, posters etc
22. 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.

1. Increase knowledge on tourism destinations in the country
2. Increase awareness on environmental conservation
3. Increase societal awareness
4. Increase awareness on recreational needs
5. Increase knowledge through experience
6. Increase knowledge through outdoor activities
7. Increase cultural and community integration and harmony
8. Increase in application of leadership skills
9. Increase in relation with clubmates
10. Progress in communication Skills
11. 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

uniqrishnan@gmail.com