30/09/2013
The Department of Tourism is planning to promote Malappuram as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the State.
The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has begun to flash Malappuram as the “most progressive district in Kerala.” District Collector K. Biju said Malappuram had the genuine right to claim the title of the cultural capital of the State as it was gave birth to innumerable cultural figures, including Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, Poonthanam, and Moyinkutty Vaidyar.
A web portal, malappuramtourism.org, was launched on Saturday as part of promoting three vital tourist circuits in the district. Though the portal has limited number of features, its promoters said more would soon be added. It would have details about and links to various cultural destinations, coastal tourist estinations, eco-tourist destinations, tourism potential of Malappuram, hospitality industry, travel and tourism, and Ayurveda.
Inaugurating the portal, Minister for Tourism A.P. Anil Kumar said the government would lay stress on developing tourism through students. He said tourism clubs would be expanded as part of enhancing awareness of tourism among students. The government would give special thrust on tourism development in Malabar, he said. DTPC secretary V. Ummer Koya said that even Karipur Airport was not getting the attention it deserved.