Amid rhythmic beatings of traditional drums in a drizzle, the community-based tourism programme titled “A village experience” organised by the district administration as part of the World Tourism Day celebrations, was launched here on Wednesday.
Traditional tiled houses, eye-soothing greenery, the calm waters of the Swarna, beautiful islets around, the hanging bridge at a distance and the flutter of birds provided just the right ambience for those who wanted to relax with their families and keep away from the stress of their hectic life, here.
Inaugurating the programme, Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, said that the idea of promoting community-based tourism here had come after the students of School of Architecture, who had done a project on it here, and presented it to the district administration. It was then that the administration contacted the people and local self-help groups and broached the idea of promoting community-based tourism. Both the people and SHGs had responded enthusiastically and had themselves arranged this programme.
Tourists need not confine themselves to just visiting beaches and temples in the district. They could also visit islands, including Moodukudru. They could stay in the traditional tiled houses and enjoy the beauty of nature here.
It would also give them an opportunity to taste the local cuisine prepared in homes, understand the way people lived here and to go on fishing and boating. “Fishing and boating will be a totally new experience for those not used to living by the river or the sea,” she said.
There were many such islands in the district. The administration would promote such community-based tourism in the other islands of the district with the cooperation of the people, Ms. Francis said.
Shilpa Nag, Assistant Commissioner, Shivananda K., Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, Janardhan Tonse, Zilla Panchayat member, and Pushpa Koitan, president of Kallianpur Gram Panchayat, were present.
