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Our Bureau

3-day event to focus on boat-building industry

Thiruvananthapuram , Oct. 17

The fifth India International Boat Show, which is to begin in Kochi on October 20, will help establish Kerala as a marine tourism destination.

Announcing this at a press conference in the city today, the Kerala Tourism Minister Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said 63 exhibitors, including 10 from outside the country, would participate in the event. The three-day event would pay special attention to Kerala's traditional boat-building industry, he added.

In keeping with the focus on the State's traditional boat-building industry, the boat show will include an exhibition of traditional boat building and fishing equipment. The event, which is organised by Kerala Tourism, will help boat builders in Kerala develop an understanding of international trends in the sector, the Minister said.

The excellent response to this year's boat show is evident from the 30 per cent increase in the exhibition space devoted to the event, he added.

A special attraction will be the arrival of the `Vasco da Gama yacht rally' in Kochi during the boat show. Sixteen yachts are participating in the rally, which attempts to retrace the route Vasco da Gama took to India, said Mr B. Suman, Director, Kerala Tourism. Kerala Tourism is also exploring the possibility of launching cruises along the State's coast in urus or dhows, which are traditional boats of wood made in Kerala's Kozhikode district, he added.

Responding to a query, the Minister said the instances of the Chikungunya disease in Kerala would not have an adverse impact on the State's tourism industry.

Kerala Tourism is in touch with tour operators and other authorities, and is keeping them informed about the situation in Kerala and the measures being taken to control the spread of the disease, Mr Balakrishnan added.

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