New stopover for adventure tourism

May 06, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 07:30 am IST - KATTAPPANA:

The Idukki District Tourism Promotion Council plans to introduce rafting and other adventure sports at Wagamon.

The Idukki District Tourism Promotion Council plans to introduce rafting and other adventure sports at Wagamon.

Wagamon is set to become the largest adventure tourism destination in the State with the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) introducing a host of events from May 7.

The programmes are being introduced in association with the Wagamon Tourism Destination Committee.

K.V. Francis, secretary, DTPC, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the new programmes to be introduced at Wagamon were Burma Bridge, sibliner, rafting, sorbing, and helicopter ladder. The items to be used for these adventure sports events had already arrived, Mr Francis said. The sporting events will also be cost-effective.

The focus will be to develop the area without harming the ecologically fragile hill station, he said.

Mr Francis said Wagamon was the third largest visiting spot in the district after Munnar and Thekkady. The number of tourists arriving there has steadily increased.

Since Wagamon has also been identified as a destination for paragliding, the DTPC was planning to introduce more events to make Wagamon a permanent destination for adventure tourism. Such sports will be part of an annual event.

Other similar items will be introduced to buoy adventure tourism on a permanent basis.

As per the estimate, there is a considerable increase in the number of foreign tourists to Wagamon and it could be made a stopover spot for those visiting Thekkady and Munnar from Kumarakaom in Kottayam district.

As per the arrival of tourists, the fourth place is Ramakkalmedu and fifth Cheruthoni, Mr Francis said. By making these less-known places important destinations, the present pressure being experienced in Munnar and Thejkkkady could be diverted.

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