ABSTRACT
The travel and tourism sector has emerged as one of the prime and fastest growing sectors contributing significantly to the global and regional economic growth and developments. The sector has become a key factor of every nation and minor administrative regions for proclaiming their traditions, art, culture and products. Thus the sector works as the ultimate placard of their physical and non-physical assets. Many recent surveys and analysis have revealed that new tourist markets and destinations are making progress in tourist visits, especially by domestic tourists and also the new generation prefers novel and local destinations, rather than travelling long distances. All these give prominence to new approaches in tourism planning; especially the cluster and circuit formations, which prompts the development of new and untapped destinations. Many countries practice these approaches currently for local area developments and enhancing local investment and entrepreneurship. Kerala with its lush green landscape and abundance of water bodies, including the unique backwaters, has greater potential for adopting such new approaches, which will aid the expansion of her tourism portfolio and product catalogue. The study focus on the extent of applicability of new tourism planning approaches for water based tourism developments in Kerala context; which reinvents and develops new potential destinations, thereby lifting her beauty and heritage to new heights.
