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Two more eco tourism projects for Kerala
Monday, 03 February 2003, 20:30 IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is planning two more eco tourism projects after the success of the first project attracted 40,000 visitors last year to Themmala, 70 km from here.
The projects are being implemented at Kottayam and Konni in Pathanamthitta district.
Said Congress party legislator from Kottayam, Mercy Ravi: "We propose to link eight main towns in Kottayam to set up an eco friendly city."
Among those is the now famous tourist destination at Kumarakom.
"We will set up waste disposal units, provide infrastructure connectivity and develop of Kumarakom and certain unexplored exotic destinations in and around Kottayam," Ravi told IANS.
Although Kumarakom is a favourite destination because of its bird sanctuary, it shot into prominence after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee spent his annual vacation at Kumarakom two years ago.
At Konni, the local legislator, Adoor Prakash, has already got the forest department to sanction close to 25 acres of dense forestland for trekking.
"We will invite reputed planners to give us technical help in moulding this tourist destination into a proper eco friendly zone," said Prakash.
"We have submitted a proposal to the Centre for 
20 million to be sanctioned. 7.5 million will be invested before the end of the current fiscal," he added.
Konni is located 40 km from Thennmala. Authorities are trying to link the two places.
With Kerala looking at tourism in a big way to revive its economy, figures released by the World Tourism Council reveal there has been an increase of 11.37 percent in foreign tourist inflow in 2002 compared to the previous year.
Tourism Minister K.V. Thomas said there was a minor increase in domestic tourists visiting Kerala from 5.239 million in 2001 to 5.568 million in 2002.
Source: IANS
20 million to be sanctioned. 7.5 million will be invested before the end of the current fiscal," he added.
Konni is located 40 km from Thennmala. Authorities are trying to link the two places.
With Kerala looking at tourism in a big way to revive its economy, figures released by the World Tourism Council reveal there has been an increase of 11.37 percent in foreign tourist inflow in 2002 compared to the previous year.
Tourism Minister K.V. Thomas said there was a minor increase in domestic tourists visiting Kerala from 5.239 million in 2001 to 5.568 million in 2002.
Source: IANS