Tourist arrivals at all-time high in Idukki: Riyas
The tourist inflow to Idukki was on the rise with the hill district witnessing an all-time high of tourist arrivals in the past three months, Minister for Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas said on Saturday.
Virtually inaugurating the Kudiyetta Smarakam (settlement memorial) museum at Idukki Park near the Idukki dam and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC)'s photo frames project, Mr. Riyas said the State tourism sector was on the path of growth.
'In the first three months of the year, 9,84,645 domestic tourists visited Idukki, which was 25% more than the previous year,' the Minister said.
'There was also a rise in the number of foreign tourists visiting the district. In the past three months, 55,033 foreign tourists visited the district, an increase of 4%,' he said.
'The settlement memorial portrays the settlement history of farmers in Idukki through installations and sculptures. The project will be an eye-opener for tourists and history enthusiasts,' said Mr. Riyas.
The museum has been set up by the Tourism department at a cost of ₹3 crore in six acres. The sculptures cover settlement history under six topics. Agitations by settler farmers have also been portrayed in the museum, including the protests led by Communist leader A.K. Gopalan and Fr. Joseph Vadakkan.
The sculptures depicting AKG and Fr. Vadakkan portray their interaction with farmers against the backdrop of a settlement village.
Human-animal conflict in the district has also been portrayed in the museum. Farmers chasing away wild animals from farmlands is depicted. Portraits of early farming practices are also featured here.
The DTPC's photo frames project is another innovative project to attract tourists. The DTPC has set up photo frames in seven major tourism destinations in Idukki to give tourists a chance to click photos and selfies. Photo frames have been set up in Wagamon Meadows, Wagamon Adventure Park, Idukki Hill View Park, Panchalimedu, Ramakkalmedu, Aruvikuzhi and Sreenarayanapuram
Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine presided over the meeting. District Collector V. Vigneshwari, district panchayat president Rarichen Neeranakunnel, and DTPC secretary Jithesh Jose, among others, were present.
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