To use tourism as a tool to spread the need for ecological awareness.
To implement eco-friendly practices and conservation methods in whichever territory we operate within.
To revive folk arts and other cultural aspects of the region by generating interest and creating an audience.
To provide employment opportunities for local communities by engaging them in tourist assistance.
Economic responsibility
20% of net profit from The Blue Yonder is benchmarked for the Nila Foundation. Primarily supported by The Blue Yonder, Nila Foundation is working towards reviving and regenerating the River Nila.
Sand miners and sand smugglers are encouraged to be part of the team as our guides, assistants, boat owners and oarsmen. With this we have set about trying to convince them that engaging in tourist assistance could be an alternative source of income as compared to the risky and destructive job of sand-mining. In fact, sand-mining is one reason why the river is dying at a rapid pace. Being part of TBY would ensure that they have a steady livelihood which help preserve their dignity. As of now we don’t have the volume of guests to make this a viable or sustainable source of income. But we believe that this is a right step in the right direction.
Naturalist, guides and interpreters are drawn from the local community in the areas we operate in. And majority of the programs are being run by them. (Except for occasional assistance from naturalists and trainers where such skills are not locally available.) These include: river rafting, trekking, camping, wildlife safari etc. None of these programs make them totally dependent on tourism, but are projected as alternative or supplementary employment opportunities.
Supplementary income for folk artists by the River Nila. Several art forms like ‘Kalam varayal’, have gone into oblivion mainly because of its inability to generate any more income for the community members. We proposed to include this as a regular feature in our tour programs and this has certainly made an impact on these minority community members.
Organising spice tours in Wayanad to supplement agricultural income for those farmers in dire straits. There were incidents of many suicides in this region because of a drop in cash crop prices. Currently we work with small farmers with multiple crops.
Culinary arrangements or facilities organised in the kitchens of local community. Almost all our outdoor activities are supported and managed by community members.
Local sourcing of materials: All accessories, be it soaps or bamboo cutlery or organic flatware or even the rafts we build are all drawn from local resources and manufactured by the local community of the region.
Environmental responsibility
Soild Waste Management in all the properties we promote. In many areas where we operate, there are no established solid waste management system. So we make sure that guests are properly briefed on this and try to reduce the impact of waste including plastics.
Recyclable bamboo rafts: The bamboo we use for rafting can be grown back within a time span of three months. We also make sure that every time we have a guest coming to any of the properties we promote, they plant a sapling as a support to our conservation effort.
Supports organic farming and organic foods. Wherever it is possible we provide organically grown food. Two properties that we promote produce only organic farm products.
Garbage Collection points on trekking trails in Wayanad. Irresponsible travellers and tour operators have made many natural beauty spot into a dumping yard. In areas where we operate we have made sure that there are waste collection centres and necessary sign boards and have made sure that the waste is regularly collected and disposed off.
Waste collection along trekking trails: Though its practically impossible to remove all the plastics and trash left over by other travellers and tour operators, we make sure our staff carry some garbage bags to collect whatever waste is possible. Though there is no compulsion on the tourists to do the same, it will be a great beginning if the traveller also join us.
Social responsibility
Investing as a Social Entrepreneur: While discussing the benefits of tourism to potential entrepreneurs in the initial stages (in an area where tourism activities are far less compared to rest of Kerala), we encountered hesitation and disbelief. This was taken care of by becoming a stake holder and by partly investing in various projects like home stays, country boats, out-door activity equipments and marketing materials.
Right from the scratch the company was set up using concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility. Our main office in Bangalore shares office space with a non profit organisation called VOICES that work with deprived communities. The ideology behind this office space sharing is to make sure that the money spend towards rent is being used to support a cause rather than plump the coffers of a commercial venture.
Promoting a river as a tourist destination to bring attention to the local community as well as getting international attention towards the plight of the river. This initiative has led many of our guests to make available their services as volunteers to work for the foundation.
All the tours that we have created are people focused. This enables the tourists to mingle and experience everyday life of the region.
Identifying folk-art forms that are neglected or passing to oblivion. For almost all the trips we organise to the river, we make sure that we incorporate this as a program. As an indirect influence, the older members of the families have started teaching their children the art forms which ensures a longer lease of life for the art form.
