The Wayanad Tourism Organization has urged the government to launch innovative projects to revitalize the tourism sector in the Hill District, a burgeoning tourism destination in the state, after COVID-19 restrictions were eased.

In a memorandum presented to Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas, the organization said tourism had played a significant role in the district’s economy as the sector provided employment opportunities for more than 30,000 people.

In addition, the industry had contributed more than 1,500 billion yen to the treasury in the past three years. But incidents like the spread of the Nipah virus, the floods in 2018 and 2019, and the spread of COVID-19 had hit the industry and clouded the lives of thousands of workers.

Revitalizing the destination by launching new projects was the order of the day to rejuvenate the industry. To this end, fundamental changes should be made for the wildlife, agriculture, heritage, and culture and adventure sectors.

They made demands such as the introduction of vehicles of international standard in the ecotourism centers for wildlife safaris and the appointment of well-trained guides with safety support systems.

An agricultural museum, nationwide farmer exchange programs and the development of agricultural sports should be part of the development of agricultural tourism, they said.

They called for the multi-crore cable car project over Thamarassery Ghat Road to be implemented soon and for a tourism-based master plan to be drawn up for the extensive development of the district. They also called for an airport to be built in the district for better connections and a stronger tourist flow.

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