In a bid to boost its tourism sector, the south Indian state
of Kerala has announced a bevy of new tourism projects, from the hilltop
tourist centre Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram to the northern district of
Kasargod.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched 26 new projects
across the 14 districts through a video conference.
“Once our state, the country and the world survive Covid-19,
Kerala will become a tourist paradise again,” Vijayan said, adding that
the state suffered an estimated loss of around Rs 25,000 crores due to the
pandemic.
The projects include Malamel Para Tourism Project at Kollam
beach, Thanni beach, a major infrastructural development project at Ponmudi and
a Rs 49 lakh beautification project of Mooloor Memorial at Elavumthitta in
Pathanamthitta district.
A Green Tourism Complex, modelled on the Louvre Museum in
Paris, will come up at Pala in Kottayam. The Aruvikkuzhi Tourism Development
Project in Idukki District; Elappara Amenity Centre, a tourism project as part
of the Bhoothatankettu dam in Ernakulam district, the botanical garden and
renovation of the tourist centre at Peechi dam in Thrissur are some of the
other projects launched.
After remaining in lockdown for months following the spread
of Covid-19, the tourism spots in the state were eventually unlocked in two
phases to travellers following strict protocols. All tourist destinations
except beaches were made accessible to visitors from October 12. Destinations
which have no controlled access, such as beach destinations, were opened to travellers
in the second phase, from November 1.
Further, tourist destinations will welcome domestic tourists
as well as other visitors. The first phase saw the reopening of hill stations,
backwater destinations, adventure tourism centres, boating facilities and so
on. Specific protocols, health checking arrangements and access control
measures are being followed at all the destinations. Strict enforcement of
Covid-19 protocols is ensured at all destinations including social distancing
norms, disinfection procedures, mandatory thermal screening of visitors and
other safety parameters.
