Kozhikode considers new river circuit to boost local tourism

Kozhikode district authorities and the Tourism department are planning a new river tourism circuit to connect local bodies along the Kuttiadi river in Kerala. A meeting led by Kuttiadi MLA Parakkal Abdulla discussed the plan, and the MLA gave a report on local rivers, ponds, fields, and hills to District Collector M.S. Madhavikutty.

Proposed Projects

The plan includes a heritage walking trail and a happiness park in Kuttiadi, along with birdwatching, farm tourism, and a walkway at Cherandathur Chira. Officials also plan kayaking and ecotourism on the Chovva river, a project at Thuruthi-Perinchery Kadavu, and a bamboo park in Thiruvallur. A joint river expedition will involve the District Collector, the MLA, local panchayat presidents, and tourism officials.

Next Steps

A team of tourism experts will visit the proposed sites soon to check if the projects are possible, followed by a visit from a team led by the District Collector. The meeting also decided to quickly improve facilities at Payamkuttimala and widen the road leading up to the hill.

Context

Local administrations across Kerala often look to tap into scenic natural spots like rivers and hills to attract visitors and boost local economies. Tourism projects of this scale typically rely on teamwork between local elected representatives, district administrative officers, and state tourism bodies to move from initial reports to actual ground work.