Tourism News

Tourism projects worth Rs. 1090 million

Published in Newsletter Issue No. 240 - August 2013

Mr. A. P. Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala announced that the State government has sanctioned projects worth Rs. 1090 million for the development of Kerala Tourism. Of this, Rs 123.7 million have been allotted for the development of Kovalam as an international tourist destination. 

Besides Kovalam, the other projects sanctioned are; Houseboat Tracking and Safety Management System (Rs. 15.8 million); Development of innovative tourism projects   (Rs. 10 million); Construction of water dams for sea plane service (Rs. 27.9 million); Setting up of lounge-cum-information centres in airports (Rs. 0.377 million); Improving efficiency of tourism information centres (Rs. 0.266 million) and the construction of tourist interpretation centre, conference hall and parking facility at the Tourism Directorate (Rs. 0.57 million). 

The projects included in the development of Kovalam as an international tourist destination are the development of roads, setting up of a cultural and tourist facility centre, a sunbath park, renovation of street lamps on the beaches and pollution-free zones. 

Special financial assistance has been provided for the development of social tourism and for the construction of wayside tourist facilitation centres. Kerala Tourism has also sanctioned an amount for the construction of a trekking circuit connecting Aruvikkara, Kallara, Ponmudi, Peppara and Neyyar Dam in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. 

The Aruvikkara dam in Thiruvananthapuram city will be given a facelift. Kerala Tourism has decided to develop the dam itself into a tourist centre.

Apart from the aforementioned financial assistance, Kerala Tourism has also decided to sanction financial assistance for conducting the Nishagandhi Festival, Ustavam an event for the promotion of folk art forms and Adithalam Tribal Festival.