The Hindu : Ponmudi to get more attention

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Ponmudi to get more attention

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM April 11. The Tourism Minister, K. V. Thomas, has said the Government will create more infrastructure facilities at Ponmudi in the district to attract more tourists to the hill resort.

Presiding over the function organised to release Kerala Tourism's book "God's Own Country'' with a series of paintings on Kerala by M. F. Husain here today, Prof. Thomas said the Government had allocated Rs. 25 crores for improving roads to the hill station on par with international standards.

The Government has decided to give a big boost to Ponmudi, he added.

The Tourism Minister said discussions were on with the civic authorities on developing a model road in the capital city with the Rs. 1 crore allocated by the Tourism Department.

Asserting that the stress will be on "quality tourism'' in the coming days, Prof. Thomas said the Conservation and Preservation Act being brought by the Department of Tourism had come up for discussions in the Cabinet already.

Uttar Pradesh will be made a partner State on the lines of partnership entered with Rajasthan for the joint promotion of tourism in both the States. The Union Government has cleared the Kerala Tourism's proposal to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore for tourism promotion, he said.

Pointing out that the State was able to undertake "quality'' marketing of the tourism products with the Rs. 10 crore allocation, Prof. Thomas said the State had to compete with Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain and Germany.

Malaysia alone spends Rs. 120 crores for marketing in India, he pointed out. The Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman, who was the chief guest, said the various festivals being organised in the State should be held on fixed dates every year to attract tourists and to help them to plan the journey in advance.

Liberalisation along with publicity is must for the development of tourism in the State.

The Speaker released the book by handing over a copy to Prof. Thomas. The three new brochures- "Blossoming business'', "Heal yourself here'' and "When the heavens touch the earth'' brought out by Kerala Tourism were released by Prof. Thomas.

The Tourism Secretary, T. Balakrishnan, who welcomed the gathering, said the orginals of Husain's paintings will be exhibited this month end or next month in New Delhi. The Director of Tourism, Alkesh Kumar Sharma, proposed a vote of thanks.

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Ponmudi to get more attention