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Efforts on to Attract more to Coastal Bekal
Thursday, 18 August 2011, 00:00 IST
Kasargode : Efforts are under way to make the historical Bekal, on the northern coast of Kerala, one of the more attractive beach destinations in South Asia.
State Tourism Minister A.P.Anil Kumar, who hails from north Kerala, told IANS, 'I have been told that this place has the potential to become the best beach destination in South Asia.'
Bekal, best known for its key-hole shaped giant fort built in laterite bricks on a hillock way back in 1660, today hums with frenetic construction more modern and welcoming in intent: five deluxe hotels are coming up.
'I wish to be corrected when I say there are not many tourists destinations in the country which would have this many five-star hotels in such a small place,' the minister said.
A leading player in the state's travel and tourism industry, E.M. Najeeb believes that further developing the Bekal beach area will give tourism a fillip. 'With its pristine natural scenic beauty and virgin beach, it is going to be the dream destination,' he says.
It is not just about the private players. The government too has joined in. 'We are now working hard to set up an air strip where 54-seater aircraft can land,' the minister said. 'Twenty-six acres have been acquired and we will open the airstrip soon.'
The union government declared Bekal a special tourism area in 1992 and since then it has come a long way, largely due to the efforts of successive state governments and private players.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS