Kozhikode tourism on revival mode, re-branding destinations on

KOZHIKODE: The entry of UV Jose, former tourism secretary as the district collector of Kozhikode, is as expected, yielding results in the tourism arena. A new member secretary has already been appointed to head the ailing District Tourism Promotion Council which was almost defunct. Though rich with many enthralling tourism spots, the district has only a few developed destinations. The tourism potential of the rustic beaches of Kappad, the historic Beypore, Kakkayam reservoir, panoramic Vayalada and mangroves of Kadalundy are yet to be explored.

The cottages at Thusharagiri Waterfalls, though developed with the support of the forest department, are yet to be opened for the public. During the farmers’ agitation against the Gadgil Committee report, a gang of hooligans had destroyed the cottages. Mr Jose told DC that an elaborate meeting scheduled on June 23 in the presence of the tourism minister would fine-tune the strategy to transform the tourism industry of Kozhikode. All stakeholders of the sector would participate in the one-day workshop. Focus would be on adventure tourism including trekking and water sports in high-ranges, farm tourism focussed on home-stays and farm visits in the agrarian sector and heritage and activity based tourism in the city.

“A coordinator has been appointed already for adventure tourism and many activities are on behind the curtain”, he said. “Our existing tourism spots, responsible tourism initiative at Kadalundi and the trekking trails of Thusharagiri would be fine-tuned and re-packaged as attractive products by September”, he said. Rs 1.7 crore has been sanctioned already for the beautification and infrastructure development of Mananchira Park. Moves are also afoot to bring the Commonwealth building complex into the city tourism network which would be converted into a museum. The undeveloped stretches of beach would be divided into ten activity zones. It is to be recalled that during his stint as DTPC member secretary in Wayanad, Mr Jose had sowed the seeds of tourism development in Wayanad catapulting it into the much sought after tourism destination it has become.