Tourism of a different kind in 'God's own country': A critical hermeneutic exploration of socioeconomic development in Kerala, India

This research addresses the question, what is the relationship between identity and tourism as one medium for socioeconomic development in Kerala, India. Because unemployment is a central problem in Kerala, tourism is seen as an opportunity for positive social and economic development. This research explores the role tourism plays in Kerala's development and the conditions under which tourism creates sustainable gains. The State of Kerala, with its combination of natural beauty and a literate and politically active citizenry, satisfies two basic conditions so that tourism that respects people and natural environments can develop.; The central inquiry of this research is a question of the relationship among culture, identity and socioeconomic development. Thus, a critical hermeneutic orientation, which engages the critical and creative dimension of poetic language, provides the opportunity to disclose something that traditional social science research cannot. Poetic language has the capacity to go beyond the descriptive nature of most social science research toward the disclosure of possible worlds. Applied to this research, poetic language opens possibilities of deeper meaning to arise through narratives, revealing the place of identity, whether personal or community, is always in relationship with others.; With categories derived from critical hermeneutic theory---narrative identity, social theory that combines both system and lifeworld perspectives, and a philosophical understanding of care---this research results in offering a different orientation toward socioeconomic development that encompasses culture, tradition, identity, modernity and action. This orientation shows that attentiveness toward and respect of the dignity of each person generates and releases a community's power-to-act which is the heart of authentic, sustainable development. Refigured acts of development become possible, including the critical assessment of local traditions in relation to modernity so that elements of the modern world become part of being grounded in identity. This orientation shows the identities of all actors at multiple levels are not only in relationship to one another but are subject to be changed by the encounters.; Future research is recommended for the education of tourism professionals to add these perspectives to their business capabilities so that sustainable forms of tourism provide appropriate livelihoods to people.