Tourism Minister A.P. Anilkumar has stressed the importance of tourism development without harming the ecology of the State.
Speaking after attending a business meet held here in connection with the sixth edition of the Splash-2014, a two-day monsoon carnival organised by the Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO) in association with the State Tourism Department and the district administration, at the Hill District Club at Kolagappara on Saturday, Mr. Anil Kumar said the policy of the government was to promote eco-friendly tourism projects and the hill district was suitable for it.
The Minister praised the initiative taken by the WTO to promote the tourism industry in the district and offered all help for it from the government. Earlier, District Collector Kesavendrakumar opened the meet. Close to 90 stalls put up the venue showcased properties in the Malabar region of the state, Coorg and Mysore in Karnataka and the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu.
In all, 359 tour operators, travel writers and photographers across the country took part in the meet.
Close to 70 tourism entrepreneurs have registered for Village Life Experience, an innovative programme to promote the major tourism destinations and witness the rustic life of tribesmen in the district, to be held on Sunday, the organisers said.
Sports competitions such as mud football and archery competitions as well as adventure sports activities, including rafting, zip line and elephant raid, were also held in connection with the carnival.
The four-day carnival will conclude on Monday.
