Vismaya Tours and Travels of the Malabar Tourism Development Co-operative Ltd. (MTCL) has been inaugurated by Mr. A. P. Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism. He called for increased involvement of the co-operative sector in developing the tourism sector in the State. The role of the co-operative sector in the field would accelerate the growth of the tourism sector which had been very active in fields such as education, could not be excluded from the tourism sector, he added. Stressing the need for attracting foreign and domestic tourists to the State, Mr. Anil Kumar said that the tour and travel agencies in the State should also assist the government’s efforts to promote the State as a tourism destination.
Tourism prospects of the Malabar region will be utilized by developing tourist spots and sites in the region as a tourism circuit, Mr. A.P. Anil Kumar has said. He added that the government was now giving special focus on developing tourism destinations in the region, including Wayanad, Kasaragod and Kannur districts.
State is giving importance to private investments for development of tourist spots. Stating that 80 per cent of tourists landing in the State were visiting destinations south of Thrissur, including major sites such as Kovalam and Alappuzha, the Minister said that the tourist inflow in the northern parts of the State could not be increased due to the lack of initiatives to promote and develop tourism sites in the region. Efforts will be given special thrust on the tourism development in the region, he added.
He said that the government was going to implement a special scheme to market Bekal as a tourist destination. The work for setting up a permanent light and sound show at the Fort St. Angelo (Kannur Fort) is being completed and it would be the first permanent light and sound show in a tourist spot in the State. A final approval from the Archaeological Survey of India will be awaited. The government had earmarked Rs.3.5 crore for arranging the show which would soon be opened to the public. . He also said that the government will also be taking special interest in renovating the Muzhappilangad beach. Mr.K.K. Narayanan, MLA, presided over the function. Mr. A.P. Abdullakutty, MLA, launched the website of the Vismaya Tours and Travels.