EMERGING KERALA : IMMENSE POSSIBILITIES
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February 12, 2019
Emerging Kerala*
N Ramakrishnan’s report “Investors will find Kerala an ideal destination”
(Business Line, February 12) has covered several aspects unique to Kerala in the state’s
effort s to move faster in its development journey. The year that has gone by
has awakened the people of Kerala and the state government and the awareness
about the possibilities of unity as evidenced during the August floods and the
harm the divisive forces can do to the reputation for communal harmony and the
progressive ideology the state has nurtured for decades is evident in the
responses of the Chief Minister.
Having realized the strengths like hundred percent literacy, acceptable
weather around the year and reasonably good road and rail connectivity within
the state and with other destinations within India and across the world (the
state now has 4 major airports), it should be possible for Kerala to fast-track
economic development by focusing more on activities which need less land-use.
Illustratively:
(i)
Festival
Tourism: Within Kerala, there is a need to formally promote
‘Festival Tourism’. The Onam celebrations at the district and State levels, the
Thrissur Pooram, the Aattukaal Pongala, Sabarimala pilgrimage, Theyyams in the
Malabar area and several other Hindu/Muslim/Christian festivals give immense
possibilities from tourism angle. If transport and stay arrangements improve,
tourists will make it a point to integrate festivals in their travel plan.
(ii)
Water Parks: Kerala has some artificial water
parks. But we do not have a theme park of international standards. A couple of
parks/entertainment areas will be useful additions.
(iii)
Herbal
Tourism: Aranmula has all the linkages and resources
necessary to grow into a large modern ‘Herbal Tourism Village’. The concept
could include participation of major Ayurveda entities. There should be
facilities for stay and treatment for different economic classes including the
Indian middle class and ‘rich’ outsiders. Development of medicinal plantations
in adjacent villages is a possibility. Aranmula has the additional advantage of
having two international airports within a distance of 150 km. Aranmula is just
an example. Similar possibilities exist in Thrissur and Kannur districts also.
(iv)
Academic Complex: Organizations in the public and private sectors world over
would be interested in establishing permanent residential training centres in
the outskirts of cities in Kerala, if the state is able to provide
infrastructure. State could examine the possibilities.
M G Warrier, Mumbai
*In preparing this response, I have drawn from the chapter "Tourism: Unexploited Potential" in my 2018 book "India's Decade of Reforms"
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