Tourism News

Clean destination drive launched

Published in Newsletter Issue No. 137 - Jan 1 2005

Internationally Kerala is known as a clean and hygienic destination. In a bid to retain the State's glory the Department of Tourism has started a new programme to ensure timely cleaning works at destinations. Clean Destination; the programme was officially launched by the Chief minister Mr. Oomman Chandy at the Kozhikode beach in Kozhikode district. The unique feature of the programme is that it is executed with the participation of Kudumbasree units in the state, which is by nature a group initiative by the women folk.

The Chief Minister in his address said that the cultural heritage of the State would be given prominence while envisaging tourism development programmes. Tourism development works under the Chief Minister's hundred days action plan programme is progressing, the Tourism Minister Mr. K. C. Venugopal said.

Clean destination is taken up under the scheme for developing infrastructure facilities at tourist destinations. Rs. 2 million has been allocated for the programme this year and the Department plans to raise the amount to the tune of Rs. 10 million next year. The Kerala Tourism and Kudumbasree would jointly conduct training classes on ecofriendly practices and hygiene to the women volunteers. Kudumbasree has been handed over the cleaning works at the identified destinations.

In the first phase, destinations / infrastructure facilities from all fourteen districts of Kerala would be selected. The following are the destinations / infrastructure facilities for the first phase: East Fort, Fort area, Gandhi Park, Thampanoor bus stand (Thiruvananthapuram); Boat jetty and bus stand areas (Kollam, Alappuzha); Aranmula (Pathanamthitta); Kumarakom (Kottayam); Munnar, Kumily (Idukki); Fort Kochi (Ernakulam); Thekkinkadu Maidan and Round (Thrissur); Malampuzha Garden, Bus stand (Palakkad); Padinjarekara beach (Malappuram); Kappad beach, Kozhikode beach (Kozhikode); Pookot lake (Wayanad); Muzhappilangad beach (Kannur); Bekal Fort and Bekal beach (Kasaragod).

In the second phase, the District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPC's) would be entrusted the job of executing the project with the participation of Kudumbasree and other non- governmental organizations.