THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism will officially roll out its Green Marshal initiative on October 9, 2026, introducing a dedicated local workforce to improve visitor assistance, destination management, cleanliness, and environmental protection at selected tourist destinations across the state.

The initiative aims to make Keralam's tourist destinations safer, cleaner, and more visitor-friendly, with particular attention to the growing number of independent travellers, including women travelling alone. Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh said the programme was conceived to address the lack of an effective local mechanism for monitoring tourist destinations and responding to problems faced by visitors on a day-to-day basis.

Green Marshals to Support Tourists and Destinations

In the first phase, around 180 Green Marshal positions are expected to be created at selected tourist destinations. Their responsibilities will extend beyond conventional visitor assistance.

Green Marshals are expected to:

• Assist tourists and provide information
• Monitor visitor safety and destination facilities
• Help maintain cleanliness
• Support waste-management efforts
• Monitor environmental conditions
• Report problems affecting tourist facilities
• Assist visitors during emergencies and other situations

The initiative is also expected to contribute to better management of tourist areas where increasing visitor numbers have created challenges related to waste, sanitation and destination upkeep.

Greater Attention to Women and Solo Travellers

Tourist safety is one of the important components of the programme. The Tourism Department has highlighted the changing nature of travel, particularly the increasing number of women travelling alone.

The presence of Green Marshals is intended to provide an additional point of assistance for visitors at destinations and help create a more comfortable environment for solo travellers.

Supporting Sustainable Tourism

The Green Marshal programme also forms part of Kerala's wider efforts to promote responsible and sustainable tourism.

Kerala Tourism already operates its Green Carpet initiative covering numerous prominent destinations across the state, including Kumarakom, Vagamon, Munnar, Thekkady, Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Athirappilly and Wayanad destinations.

By combining visitor assistance with cleanliness, waste management and environmental monitoring, the Green Marshal initiative seeks to strengthen destination-level management while protecting the character and ecological quality of tourist locations.

The programme is scheduled for its official statewide rollout on October 9, with Green Marshals initially being deployed at selected destinations.