Kerala - Kannur   

`Focus on development of tourism'

Staff Reporter

Government's policy is to promote responsible tourism: Kodiyeri

CONCERTED EFFORT: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan inaugurating a get-together of volunteers and beneficiaries of the Continuing Education Programme in Kannur on Saturday.

KANNUR: Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said here on Saturday that development of tourism infrastructure would be given priority so as to ensure more investment in the tourism sector.

Addressing a meeting attended by the MP, MLAs and tourism promoters associated with the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Mr. Balakrishnan said the Government would take measures to clear obstacles that hampered road, drinking water and electricity supply works in tourism project areas. The people's representatives and local bodies should co-operate with the Tourism Department to settle disputes that created hurdles in the way of the projects, he said.

"The Government's policy is to promote responsible tourism that will not compromise on quality," the Minister said adding that each tourism project would be assigned specific purpose and responsibility. The Malabar region, which had been ignored in the past as far as tourism development was concerned, would be given special attention in the efforts to develop more tourism spots and projects, he said. All ongoing tourism projects in Kannur and nearby areas would be completed in a time-bound manner, he said adding that technical difficulties, if any, would be sorted out. The eco-tourism project at Paithalmala would be expedited, the Minister said.

As part of ensuring that tourism projects benefited the local communities and local craftsmen, the Tourism Department was considering a plan to encourage souvenir industry among the local people. Efforts would also be taken to ensure that all ongoing projects were brought under Central schemes and to submit more tourism projects to be developed with Central aid, he said.

A proposal to develop a cultural village at Madayippara here at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crores would be considered, he said adding that funds would not be a problem for such projects if difficulties in getting land were cleared.

The Tourism Minister said that the Government would start procedures to acquire land for the proposed airport in the district in the wake of the Union Government's in-principle nod for the proposal. He said the proposed Thalassery-Mysore railway line would also benefit the tourism potential of Wayanad district.

Mr. Balakrishnan said the Government would promote tourism projects that would not harm the State's unique culture. Intense promotion of monsoon tourism, health tourism and pilgrim tourism had now almost ended off-season in Kerala tourism, he pointed out. Efforts would be taken to develop historically important spots, he added.

Stating that the Government would review the functioning of DTPCs, the Minister said they would be re-constituted on the basis of their past functioning. The Government wanted the DTPCs to be more efficient, he said adding that more powers should be given to them.

Education programme

Mr. Balakrishnan said the State Government would chalk out plans for strengthening the continuing education programme being implemented by the State Literacy Mission.

Inaugurating a get-together of beneficiaries of the programme and `preraks' here, organised by the district panchayat, on Saturday, Mr. Balakrishnan said the continuing education programme being implemented as a follow-up of literacy schemes had to be saved from becoming a mundane activity. The programme should be made more efficient with people's participation, he added.

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