After remaining grounded for months
due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kerala Tourism is all set for revival. The
Responsible Tourism Mission under the State Department of Tourism has rolled
out a ‘Cultural Experience package’ to facilitate guests explore the local
culture and heritage with focus on rural destinations in the South Indian
state.
The package, offering experience in
art and ritual traditions from Yakshagana Bommayaatta to Theeyyaattu
and Theyyam, seeks to network the cultural heritage of different locations
to attract visitors.
According to K. Rupesh Kumar, State
RT Mission Co-ordinator, the innovative attempt is to attract visitors to
destinations beyond the existing map of tourism and introduce them to a set of
new cultural points in the state.
“The guests will be given a subtle
experience in the art form of choice, which involves interaction with artists
and artisans who work as micro enterprise units, narration of experiences,
watching theater shows and even learning the art. This will help to extend the
duration of stay of guests in the select locations,” he said. However, ritual
art forms like Theyyam will be promoted only in its natural settings as
the department is against promoting them as capsule models.
For instance, visitors opting for Yakshagana
Bommayatta, a puppetry tradition prevalent in the villages sharing the
border with Karnataka, will be introduced to activities right from doll making
to narration of stories to be performed in the evening, among other things. As
majority of these activities take place in the afternoon, the guests could be
also taken for a sight-seeing trip in and around the village during the
mornings.
The programme also includes
artforms like Garudan Thookkam, Kalamezhuthum Paattum, Yakshaganam,
Kathakali and Margam Kali. Around 6000 Art and Culture units have
been registered with the RT Mission, covering around 14, 000 artists. Out of
these, 800 units will be part of the latest initiative.
Around 6000 art and culture units
have been registered with the RT Mission, covering around 14,000 artists. Out
of these, 800 units will be part of the latest initiative.
The package also offers culinary
delicacies exclusive to each of the remote locations. “The packages do not
follow a structured pattern and can be recast based on the personal choice of
each guest,” Kumar told Ayurveda Magazine.
With the Covid-19 related
restrictions likely to be in place for some more time, the immediate focus of
the package will be intra-state travelers. It will later be extended to
inter-state and international guests as and when the travel restrictions ease
further.
