Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Tourism fete begins on January 20

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

A chance for tourists to see classical art forms

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Tourism's maiden "Tourism Festival", aimed at providing a "window of opportunities'' for tourists to see and experience classical art forms, will commence in the city on January 20 next year.

The festival coincides with the peak tourist season in the State and Kerala Tourism's initiative is to organise a festival exclusively for tourists visiting the State during the months of December and January. The focus of the week-long festival would be different from other events being organised by Kerala Tourism and it would be music and dance beyond Kerala, Director of Tourism, B. Suman told The Hindu.

The festival will be conducted at Nishagandhi Open Air auditorium in the sprawling Kanakakunnu palace premises concurrently with Flower Show 2007. The annual flower show would be held at the Observatory Hills and the adjacent Institution of Engineers Hall, Vellayambalam.

The festival would have representation from all over the country and the aim is to convert it into an international festival for performing arts. "Within four to five years, the event should itself be a big draw," he said.

Only maestros and top artistes from the country would be allowed to perform in each discipline. This is to maintain high standards for the festival.

Mr. Suman said the entire LMS-Museum junction-Kanakakunnu palace stretch would be converted into a festival arena during the occasion.

Organising the tourism festival and flower show simultaneously is aimed at attracting tourists, especially foreign tourists, who would be in the capital and beach resort of Kovalam in large numbers during this period.

Initially, the tourism authorities were planning to organise the festival towards the end of December this year. But, the holidays on account of Christmas and New Year and the busy schedule for those in the hospitality sector forced the authorities to postpone the event to January.

The week-long flower show is being organised jointly by Kerala Tourism, Department of Agriculture, City Corporation, Kerala Rose Society and Kerala Agri-Horticulture Society. Meanwhile, preparation for the flower show has commenced in full swing in the capital.

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