As many as 17 grama panchayats in Calicut district of Northern Kerala, is planning to jointly host Malayora Mahotsavam, with an aim to overcome the crisis in the rural tourism sector caused by the floods. The event will showcase the unexplored destinations in the district and attract investments.
The event, backed by the state Tourism Department, will be held in January and will offer venues to small-scale industrialists, rural innovators, and farm tourism entrepreneurs to display their products and services.
“The aim of hosting the event is to let the world know that our eco-tourism destinations are fully back on the rails after the floods. Our investors in the farm tourism sector and homestay business are all ready to greet more tourists, and they look at Malayora Mahotsavam with great hope,” said Thiruvambadi grama panchayat president P T Augustine. He added that the fest would offer an opportunity to rural farmers to set up stalls to take advantage of marketing opportunities.
Augustine, who is also a coordinator of the fest, said an exclusive photo exhibition and video presentation on eco-tourism destinations and water tourism spots would also be held as part of the fest.
“Each panchayat will come up with its own visual presentations and stalls to highlight local attractions and amenities for tourists,” he added.
An investors’ meet, tourism development seminars, interaction with experts in the rural tourism industry, and field visits for interested investors are under consideration for the two-week-long fest, which is slated to commence on January 11. The cooperation of Koduvally and Mukkom municipalities too will be sought for the initiative.
According to organisers, rural artistes will get an opportunity to showcase their talents at the fest. Stalls of various departments and Kudumbashree workers too are under consideration. The reception committee, chaired by District Panchayat President Babu Parassery, will meet at Thiruvambadi on Tuesday to release the official schedule of the event.
