West Coast Canal to be made Tourism Water-Freeway

On the banks of the WCC corridor from Kovalam in the south to Kasaragod in the north, up to 50 tourist resorts will be built: Minister of Tourism

The 633 km long West Coast Canal (WCC), the state’s main arterial waterway, which runs through 11 districts and is made navigable to National Waterways specifications, is to be referred to as the Tourism Water-Highway.

“On the banks of the WCC corridor from Kovalam in the south to Kasaragod in the north, with the involvement of the local authorities, up to 50 tourist sites will be built. All of these places are developed to protect flora and fauna and are based on a master plan, ”Minister of Tourism and Public Works PA Mohamed Riyas told The Hindu.

Local cuisine, culture, folk art and handicrafts are promoted so that the local community benefits. The state’s new fuel efficient and environmentally friendly transport corridor will also be an important factor for tourism.

The groundbreaking Malanad-Malabar river cruise, which offers customized themed experiences, attracts tourists to the less explored locations in northern Kerala and brightens the waterways in Kannur and Kasaragod, is to be accelerated, says Riyas.

Listed the priorities for the tourism sector hit by the pandemic-triggered lockdown, the minister said aggressive marketing campaigns will be launched inside and outside the country to keep the visitor numbers of foreign tourists to 20 lakh and domestic to 3 by 2025, Increase 65 crore. Kerala Tourism will work closely with industry stakeholders to achieve the goals.

Mr Riyas, who has worked with representatives from various tour operator organizations, believes that the best way to revitalize the sector in the current circumstances is to encourage domestic tourism and attract local and foreign residents as soon as it does is a decline in the current pandemic.

For this purpose, the roads are being upgraded to tourist destinations for better connections and by linking the destinations, more tourist circles will be formed. A master plan is to be drawn up for all major tourist destinations and the local authorities will be instrumental in the planned development of these destinations.

As the government’s goal is to support tourism that benefits entrepreneurs, tourists and local communities alike, Riyas said that responsible tourism will be strengthened and host families will be encouraged.

Promoting cleanliness with the involvement of local people, the Green Protocol and the ban on plastic, as well as restoring the fame of the Kovalam beach resort, which has put Kerala on the tourist map and in the cultural heritage and tourism circles, will become more important . The minister said modern technology should be used to find a solution to the annoying problem of disposing of waste generated by houseboats.

Mr Riyas, who also runs the critical public works portfolio, said repairs to the state road network are in full swing and will be completed before the monsoons start. The focus is on road corridors that have been damaged by rain in recent years and to prevent damage on routes from recurring.

Completion of the £ 25,000 crore work initiated by KIIFB, KSTP and RIKI will be a top priority.

Another 15,000 km of roads will be paved with BM & BC and connecting roads will be upgraded from the districts to the Hill Highway.

Modern technology and materials for work will be at the forefront when laying roads to ensure they can withstand changes in weather, the minister said.