Wayanad can be promoted as a major tourism destination by leveraging its experiential potential and biodiversity sustainably, panellists suggested at a seminar held in Kalpetta, Kerala, on October 6 to mark the announcement of the 'Brand Wayanad' project, an initiative rolled out by the Tourism Department as part of the State Government's 100-day action plan.

Pitching for a reliable database of Wayanad as a destination,  T Sivaraju, MD of Uravu Ecolinks, said the data on Wayanad's tourism potential was inaccurate. Data must be accurate to attract more investments in the sector, mostly from outside Wayanad, he said.

“The potential for local development also needs to be explored. A 'service villa' culture is now emerging, replacing the traditional homestay model, and a comprehensive survey incorporating such features is required,” he pointed out.

 Saneesh CS, Biodiversity Lead at the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, said Wayanad should increasingly leverage its biodiversity for tourism. “Efforts need to be made to attract tourists interested in biodiversity specifically,” he said.

Saneesh illustrated, with examples, how the region's unique topography contributes to its distinctiveness.

Kalpetta Narayanan, writer and Chairman of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, pointed out Wayanad’s unique features and identity should be safeguarded while tapping its tourism potential. “The region boasts biodiversity that is unmatched even by the Himalayas. The very air of Wayanad possesses medicinal qualities,” he said.

David Raju (General Manager, CGH Earth Experience), Prashanth Rajesh (Plantation Expert),  Sibiraj Raveendran (Architect and Tourism Consultant), Raghu Narayana Swamy (Co-founder and Operational Director, BB Voyage Pvt. Ltd.), Sanoop Kumar PV (Assistant Professor of Travel and Tourism, Pazhassi Raja College, Pulpally) and Sumesh Mangalassery, a responsible tourism practitioner and sustainable tourism consultant, participated in the panel discussion titled 'What Next for Brand Wayanad'.

Kerala Tourism Mart Society (KTM) member Vanchiswaran anchored the session.