The Hindu : Kerala News : State to promote adventure tourism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 20, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

State to promote adventure tourism

John L. Paul

`Kerala set to become major player in adventure tourism in one-and-a-half years'

AMBITIOUS PROJECT: Kerala Tourism is to boost water-based tourism.

KOCHI: Kerala Tourism will identify locales to promote adventure and water-based tourism in the State.

Bids have been called from consultants to help the department in identifying sites. Tourism Director B. Suman said that the department would invite bids from entrepreneurs engaged in (or interested in) adventure and water-based tourism projects. A minimum price will be fixed before the bids are invited.

"On our part, we will set up fixed infrastructure such as buildings. The land will be handed over to entrepreneurs on lease, for a maximum period of three years. The performance of the agency organising adventure-tourism activities will be assessed each year and the lease extended only if it is found satisfactory. Both big and small players will get an opportunity to venture into the sector in Kerala. Our aim is to identify as many places as possible to set up adventure-tourism ventures."

Mr. Suman added that with this, Kerala would become a major player in the country's adventure-tourism circuit, in one-and-a-half years. Kerala has the ideal landscape to host a variety of adventure sports, be it paragliding and other sports from atop hills in the Western Ghats or windsurfing, yachting and canoeing in the water bodies.

"Tourism cannot be confined to land alone. The State's water bodies present ample scope for promoting water sports and leisure boating. Places such as Kumarakom and Bolghatty Island are ideal for this, since they are hubs of high-value tourism. As of now, tourists are stuck in their hotel rooms, having little to do," said Mr Suman.

Volvo Ocean Race

Kochi is set to find its place in the world's maritime map since the Volvo Ocean Race, in which 50 to 60 power boats participate, is set to call at Kochi in early 2008. This rally, held every four years, is the water equivalent rally of the renowned Dakar car rally. The organisers had met Kerala Tourism officials to work out the logistics and accommodation for the participants.

Despite ambitious schemes to promote water-based tourism, uncertainty looms large over the proposal to set up the country's largest marina in Kochi. The main bottleneck is the identification of land. The Cochin Port Trust is now unwilling to hand over land reclaimed from the backwaters in Bolghatty Island, for the purpose. Kerala Tourism may use the land owned by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation in the island, for setting up the marina.

Backwater trekking

A novel product called backwater trekking will be launched in Muhama, thanks to the efforts of adventure-sports enthusiast and instructor, Wg. Cdr. (Retd) Unnikrishnan Palat. People will be able to explore different places, by paddling canoes and kayaks. They need use the coast for only for camping.

"Being blessed with a long coastline, Kerala offering tremendous potential for water sports and boating for leisure. It is a good way to unwind and be with nature. Water sports activities do not cause air, water or noise pollution. But little is being done to promote these activities. The multiple agencies dealing with each area and red tape have resulted in projects becoming non-starters," says Wg. Cdr. Palat. This could be one reason why the submarine tourism project (to take people on a tour into the depths of the sea) failed to kick off in Kochi.

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