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IN THE NEWS

River cruises to be major part of Kerala

Tourism’s Rs 325 cr Malabar project

Steena Joy
Thiruvanathapuram
River cruising will be a major
part of Kerala Tourism’s
ambitious `325 crore project to
develop the Malabar region.
Speaking exclusively to
Express TravelWorld in the
office of the directorate of
tourism in Thiruvanathapu-
ram, Kerala, P Bala Kiran, IAS,
director, Kerala Tourism stated,
“Nearly 92 per cent
of tourists come mainly to south
Kerala circuits – Kochi, Munnar,
Thekkady Kumarakom, Varkala
and Kovalam and go back from
Thiruvanathapuram. Most of
them don’t even go to North Ker-
ala. So what we thought is if we
want to double our tourist ar-
rivals, the only way to do it is in-
crease the geographical spread,
apart from increasing the brand
equity of Kerala Tourism and ex-
panding the season to a 365 day
destination. When we were
searching for products in North
Kerala, we realised that river
cruise tourism has not been ex-
ploited in a big way. We already
have a presence in the sense that We expect to get around `100 crore from the
we have the houseboats but only
they don’t go on cruises. They go Centre.The remaining funds will raised by the
for a short picnic tour and
return.” state government.In fact,this year’s
He added that seven of the budget itself has allocated `37 crore for creating
rivers are already connected in
Kannur, Kasaragod and Calicut the boat jetties along the river courses and to
districts. “So we thought of
starting this product. We procure the boats
chalked up a `325 cr project
proposal to develop this and P Bala Kiran
approached the Government of
India. We expect to get around Onam this year (September) objections from locals like the Many of these rivers have virgin territories, initially the
`100 crore from the Centre. we hope to have the river seaplane project did, Bala small islands which are popu- tourism department will buy
The remaining funds will cruises up and running in Kiran informed that the demand lated. So each of these islands and operate the cruise boats.
raised by the state government. North Kerala.” for river cruises has come from have been given a tourism task “Later when there is good re-
In fact, this year’s budget itself This will coincide with the the locals themselves. “When to entertain the river cruise sponse from private players,
has allocated `37 crore for Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Government of India officials guests. Thus the eight rivers we will gradually withdraw, ” he
creating the boat jetties along being held in Kochi around that came to do a site inspection re- will have eight separate circuits said. He added that the
the river courses and to pro- time. Ironically, the theme of cently, they received a warm to give guests different experi- Tourism District Councils in
cure the boats as there are KTM 2018 is Malabar tourism. welcome from the locals. People ences like say a Theyyam cir- North Kerala will drive the
hardly any houseboats plying Commenting on whether the in North Kerala are generally cuit, a food circuit, etc. river cruise initiative as the
on these rivers except in the river cruises may face the envi- very welcoming and hospitable,” Bala Kiran also stated that Malabar region is very far from
Valiyaparambu backwaters. By ronmental hurdles or he said. as it is difficult to attract bids in the capital city.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD 9
February 2018