The Hindu Business Line : KTM spotlight on Wayanad, Malabar

Southern comfort: A foreign delegate visits a stall at Kerala Travel Mart 2004 in Kochi on Thursday. Over 150 sellers, most of them from South India, have put up stalls at KTM, which will be on till October 2. -- H. Vibhu

Kochi , Sept. 30

ENTREPRENEURS have come together to promote tourism destinations in Wayanad and Malabar at the three-day Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), which begin at the Le Meridien Hotel here.

The Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO) and Malabar Tourism Board had shown a perfect model that could be implemented in other parts of the State as well. The Wayanad region with 26 per cent forest cover is home to two major wild life reserves — Muthanga and Tholpetty wildlife sanctuaries.

As part of the Western Ghats, these sanctuaries constitute the last surviving tracts of a unique ecosystem and are home to an incredible range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species.

With transport facilities available from Bangalore, Mysore and Kochi, Wayanad offers a perfect weekend gateway to an un-crowded, clean and eco-friendly atmosphere from the stress of city life.

The Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO), which is a joint venture of 14 tour operators, is aiming at developing sustainable tourism in the district. The WTO formed a year ago, is trying to develop Wayanad as a tourism destination, said the organisation President, Mr Victor Dey.

Meanwhile, the business session of the KTM 2004 has taken off with the State Tourism Minister, Mr K. C. Venugopal inaugurating the exhibition of stalls. He also had a glimpse of the various houseboats displayed at the Marina venue.

The business hours started with the buyers drawn from within the country and abroad interacting with the sellers. Backwaters, beaches, Ayurvedic resorts, houseboats, home stays and were the major attractions among the exhibition stalls.

Mr Subhash Goyal, President of Indian Association of Tour Operators described the show as fantastic and that Kerala has shown the way for the rest of the country to promote tourism.

Earlier, inaugurating the KTM on Wednesday, the State Chief Minister, Mr Oomen Chandy, said that the Kerala-model of tourism development is an exemplary model of public-private partnership.

He pointed out that the village and culture-based tourism initiatives in the State have been a success. The arrival of foreign tourists went up by 26.7 per cent in 2003, as compared to 2002. The State should able to sustain national and international interest in Kerala tourism. Those in the industry could do this by catering to the tastes of tourists coming from varied destinations, he said.

The Deputy Director General, Kerala Tourism, Mr V. Venu, said that the credit for boosting tourism in the State goes to all segments in the industry and not just to officials.

The Principal Secretary, State Tourism, Mr E. K. Bharat Bhusan, showcased the inherent strengths of Kerala tourism through a visual presentation.

The unique selling propositions (USPs) of Kerala tourism are ayurveda and the backwaters. Only in Kerala, will one be able to find hills, forests and water bodies, all within less than 35 km width. Around 57 centres have been identified for being promoted as eco-tourism spots. The participation of local communities is vital for promoting tourism, he added.