Idukki, Wagamon and Nedumkandom will soon be developed into major tourism destinations in the district on par with the more popular tourism destinations of Thekkady and Munnar. The master plan is being prepared by the Idukki District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) for identifying the known and unknown tourism spots in and around the three locations with an aim to bring the entire district under a single umbrella in terms of promoting tourism.
The move will considerably ease the high pressure on protecting the bio-diversity and ecology of the most visited places of Munnar and Thekkady. Explaining the unique features of the master plan, DTPC secretary M.Rajesh told The Hindu on Tuesday that the focus of the entire project will be to protect the ecologically sensitive areas while taping the potential of tourism in the entire district.
He said that the destination of Munnar will be spread over areas of Mankulam and Kallar and added that a lot of unknown tourist spots especially hills and waterfalls will form part of the five destinations. The main aim is to develop an eco-friendly and responsible tourism culture while protecting the environment.
Mr. Rajesh said that in the new tourism destinations, no major structure or building will be allowed to construct with out getting the mandatory environmental clearance. “This will ensure that unauthorised building or constructions in the new destinations will not take place,” he said and added that the rural economy will benefit as farm tourism will also become a tourism itinerary.
Idukki destination will include areas till Kattappana and cover tourism spots like Painavu, Nadukani, Keerithodu and Calvery Mount. The Nedumkandam destinations will include places like Ramakkalmedu, Areekuzhy and Anakkara. “A major feature of the project will be the formation of the wind energy park under the Nedumkandam destination,” he said and added that Anakkara has already entered in the tourism map as a spice tourism centre.
Under the Wagamon destination, areas like Pullikanam and Peerumade will be clubbed together. Mr Rajesh said that infrastructure for attracting tourists will be developed without harming the environment. The tourism destinations of Ramakkalmedu is already growing in popularity and development of the three regions will provide scope for a wide space of movement for both the internal and external tourists who spend more than a day in a particular destination.
As part of the project and developing the potential of Udumpanchola assembly constituency, Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will inaugurate a seminar on ‘Potentials of Hill Tourism’ at Nedumkandam on Thursday, in which people’s representatives from different tourism regions will attend, he said.
