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Kerala is all set to become one of the main centres for adventure tourism activities this year. The state will host four international adventure tourism activities in some of the major tourism hotspots including Vagamon (paragliding), Varkala (surfing), Mananthavady (mountain biking) and Kozhikode (whitewater kayaking). Kerala Tourism Minister Mr P. A. Mohamed Riyas stated that these activities are aimed at putting the state on the global adventure tourism map.
Addressing a news conference in Thiruvananthapuram, the minister said the department had already finalised a calendar for this year's competitions.
The first in the series of events will be the 'International Paragliding Competition 2024' to be held from March 14 to 17 at Vagamon, Idukki.
"This is India's largest aero sports adventure festival where more than 100 nationally and internationally renowned gliders will participate," Mr Riyas said.
"More than 15 countries have expressed interest in participating in the festival. Also, paragliding international champions and world-famous riders will take part in the event,” he added.
Paragliding competitions will be held in Mini XC, Spot Landing at Top Landing Spot, Mini Acrobatics Show, Hike and Fly, Ground handling and Thermaling.
There will be contestants from France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, the US, the UK, Nepal and the Indian states of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
The four-day event will be hosted jointly by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) and the Idukki District Tourism Promotion Council, with the technical support of the Paragliding Association of India.
With the International Surfing Festival at Varkala from March 29 to 31, Kerala will play host to the first national surfing championship this year, where surfing athletes from India's eastern and western coastal cities will compete in various categories.
"The event aims to make Kerala the premier surfing destination in India, and promote the sport of surfing in the country," Mr Riyas said.
"The festival also aims to make Varkala, Kerala's premier surfing destination, an internationally recognised surfing hotspot, and will also give an opportunity to the water sports lovers of the state to learn and practise the sport of surfing," the minister added.
The competitions will be held in SUP Technical Race, SUP Long Distance, SUP Sprint Race, Paddleboard Technical Race, Paddleboard Long Distance and SUP Surfing.
This event will be organised jointly by the International Surfing Association, KATPS and Thiruvananthapuram DTPC in collaboration with the Surfing Federation of India.
The 7th edition of the International Mountain Cycling Championship (MTB Kerala-2024) will be held from April 26 to 28 at Priyadarshini Tea Plantation, Mananthavady, Wayanad. This has already put the state on the global competitive mountain cycling map. Cyclists from 25 countries are expected to participate in the championship featuring a five-kilometre-long track covering terrains like mud, rock and water.
MTB Kerala has also been included in the MTB Championship calendar of Union Cycliste International (UCI), the governing body of the sport of cycling based in Switzerland.
International Cross Country XCO (Elite Men), National Cross Country XCO (Elite Men), National Cross Country XCO (Elite Women), Intermediate Cross Country XCO (Elite Men) and Intermediate Cross Country XCO (Elite Women) are the competition categories.
The championship is organised by the Tourism Department under the aegis of KATPS, Wayanad DTPC and the Cycling Federation of India.
The 10th edition of the Malabar River Festival will be held from July 25 to 28.
The competition categories in this event on the Chalipuzha and Iruvanjipuzha rivers are kayak slalom, boater cross and downriver competition categories.
KATPS, Kozhikode DTPC, Kozhikode District Panchayat and the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association will jointly organise the International Whitewater Kayaking Championship.
Tourism Secretary Mr K. Biju and KATPS CEO Mr Binu Kuriakose also attended the news conference.
