Tourism in Kerala will bounce back: Tourism min

The priority of the government after the floods is to restore and rebuild roads and bridges to the major tourist destinations in Kerala, said Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism.  The minister was addressing a gathering at ‘Kaithanginoru Kooppukai’ after felicitating tourism/hospitality professionals who were involved in rescue and relief activities during the flood.

The event, organised by Kerala Tourism, honoured tourism sector personnel, including tour operators, associations, life guards and boat drivers, who were engaged in the rescue and relief operations.

“The major challenge faced by the tourism sector is damage suffered by roads connecting tourism destinations. The government, however, is giving top priority to rebuilding these roads,” the minister said.

Many of the roads to important destinations including Munnar, were totally or partially damaged due to the recent floods in the state.The heavy rains and landslides have destroyed a number of roads and bridges in Idukki. Over 60 mudslides and landslides have occurred in and around Munnar during the last leg of August. Landslides have destroyed the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway and Munnar-Udumalpet National Highway too. The traffic has, however, been resumed on the major roads to popular destinations. Tourists have started coming to Munnar to witness the mass blooming of Neelakurinji, which blooms once in only 12 years.