The Hindu : Call to link tourist destinations in South India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Call to link tourist destinations in South India

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE AUG. 9. The Minister for Tourism, K V Thomas, has called for joint initiatives by the Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to link tourist destinations in these States.

``Tourist circuits linking these States would give a big boost to tourism development in North Kerala,'' the Minister said while inaugurating `Mystical Malabar -- a national tourism workshop on destination promotion and marketing' at the scenic Kadavu resort here today.

Prof. Thomas pointed out that the high-quality tourism products in erstwhile Malabar (now North Kerala) had not been properly marketed, unlike in Central and southern Kerala. And efforts in this direction had been launched by the State Government. In this context, the Minister said it was high time to develop and market tourism products of the region. South Canara, the most attractive part of Karnataka, and Kaveri Basin, the most picturesque part of Tamil Nadu, are in close proximity to Malabar.

Development and promotion of circuits including these regions would be very much beneficial to these regions. Joint ventures of these States to promote these places as tourist spots have to be initiated soon.

The Minister said the State Government was focusing its efforts on developing Kerala into an upmarket high quality tourist attraction. The stress, he added, would be on optimal utilisation of resources, conserving and preserving the heritage and environment and generating employment opportunities, thus making tourism the most important sector for the socio-economic development of the State.

He, however, underscored the Government's intention to control and regulate development of tourist destinations on the basis of area development plans drawn up for the purpose. The strength of Kerala tourism would always be backwaters, ayurveda, performing arts, cuisine and eco-tourism.

The Minister reiterated the Government's perspective on tourism -- basically a private sector activity. The Government plays only the role of a catalyst and facilitator.

He was of the view that tourism being a multi-sectoral activity and since the industry was affected by many other sectors in the economy, the State had to play a lead role in enacting tourism-friendly legislations.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Tourism Secretary, T. Balakrishnan, focused on the wealth of tourist attractions that the North Kerala region was endowed with. He said with the tourist appeal of places like Kovalam fading -- because of overcrowding and mushrooming of buildings -- the Government had to promote efforts to spruce up the tourist attractions in North Kerala. The Health Minister, P Sankaran, who presided, welcomed the attempts being made to put North Kerala on the tourist map of the country. The Tourism Minister released at the function a CD on `Malabar Mystique'.

The inaugural CD was handed over to N. K. Mohammed, president, Malabar Tourism Board. The Director of Tourism, Alkesh Kumar Sharma, proposed a vote of thanks.

Presentations on various tourist attractions in North Kerala were made by experts, including the Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), M G S Narayanan.

The delegates to the workshop, drawn from different States, were treated to colourful cultural programmes native to North Kerala, at the day-long function.

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Call to link tourist destinations in South India