KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER
Bekal to be an international tourist destination by 2015
Bekal and its famed 17th century fort in Kasaragod district are gearing up to take the centre stage on Kerala's tourism map. Infrastructure projects worth millions of rupees, designed to make Bekal India's first sustainable and planned beach destination, are on at the destination.
The Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Ltd (BRDC) is beginning a phase of accelerated development and promotion to make this small coastal town in Kasaragod district an international holiday hotspot over the next three years. To showcase this pristine destination and its many attractions, both nationally and internationally, a promotional campaign 'Know Bekal' was recently inaugurated at Bekal by Chief Minister Mr. Oommen Chandy.
The campaign kicked-off at Bekal with a familiarization (FAM) tour for travel professionals and stakeholder sessions to discuss tourism strategies. This would be followed by a series of road shows, open theatres and light and sound displays. Information kiosks would be installed at major destinations and airports and Bekal tourism would get representation at international trade fairs.
"The aim of 'Know Bekal' programme is to showcase the rapid transformation taking place in and around the town, including construction of luxury resorts, improvements in transport infrastructure, revamp of beach amenities and backwater tour facilities and the introduction of new adventure, culture and eco-tourism activities. Bekal has a splendid 10 km stretch of networked waterways, which makes it an ideal destination for boating and backwater tourism. New projects such as the revamp of the Kottapuram house boat centre will help to tap this potential. Bekal has the rare advantage of combining beach, backwater and hill tourism. People's participation is integral to tourism and with Bekal we intend to involve local communities from the start," said Mr. A. P. Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala.
BRDC is keen to promote other attractions of Bekal, including its stunning backwaters, rich cultural heritage and options for adventure activities like water sports and aero sports besides the magnificent sea-facing Bekal Fort, spread over 40 acres, which was built in 1640 as a defence post. The fort is currently protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
