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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Kadamakkudy Kazhchakal' launched to tap island tourism potential
Kochi: To transform Kadamakkudy as a major island destination in the country, tourism department will be developing it as a major component of the proposed tourism corridor connecting Marine Drive with Varappuzha through Kochi backwaters. As part of preparing a comprehensive master plan for Kadamakkudy, tourism authorities have started micro-mapping important spots, traditional cuisines and cultural attractions of the island areas. Industry minister P Rajeeve on Tuesday formally inaugurated 'Kadamakkudy Kazhchakal', a campaign headed by Vypeen MLA K N Unnikrishnan with the support of District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) highlighting tourism potential of the islands. A boat journey through the scenic beauty of Kadamakkudy was also held, exploring more regions of the islands. In his inaugural speech Rajeeve said that the master plan should be prepared in a way that fully preserves the natural beauty of the islands and the activities should be carried forward based on a scientific and comprehensive master plan to attract tourists while maintaining the beauty and uniqueness of the area. DTPC secretary Linto Joseph said the micro-mapping would focus on local culture and authorities would ensure that tourism development of the island areas would be beneficial to the local people. "We are planning sustainable development of the islands by improving water connectivity and by projecting the destination as one of the major island destinations in the country," he said. As part of the campaign, a seminar titled 'Kadamakkudy - Islands of Diversity: A Vision for Delightful and Sustainable Tourism' will be organised at Nihara Resort in Kothad on Wednesday. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Weavers sit idle in Kannur's heritage village as handloom industry struggles
The handloom heritage village of Azhikode, once alive with the rhythmic clatter of magghams (frame looms), stood eerily silent on Thursday. Even as the nation marked National Handloom Day, most weavers in the village sat idle. Azhikode's weaving legacy dates back to the 16th century when Kolathiri Raja invited the Saliya weaver families to settle here. Their arrival created weaving streets across Kannur. The industry peaked during the 1960s and 80s, when Kannur crape fabric became popular in western markets. However, Azhikode and many other such villages in Kannur are today a pale shadow of their past. 'Today, most houses have abandoned weaving and only a handful still retain looms, often lying unused. Had it not been for the heritage village board put up by the District Tourism Promotion Council, the identity of the place would have vanished,' says Sasidharan Thekkan, a weaver, who now runs a grocery shop, The board was formed after the handloom village project began on January 5, 2015 under United Democratic Front government. Prabhakaran Badi, 65, recalls the time when several companies and societies employed weavers here. He lost his job over ten years ago after the Rajarajeswari Weaving Mill, where he worked for over two decades, downed shutters. 'I still spin some yarn, but it mostly lies idle. If I spin a kayi (local unit) of thread, I get ₹16. That takes an hour. How can we survive on that,' Mr. Badi asks. Pavithran, who worked in the sector for 50 years, now runs a single frame loom at home for export orders. 'Youngsters prefer jobs that earn them ₹1,000 a day instead of ₹400 after 10 hours of weaving,' he says His son, C. Arun, an engineer working in Mangaluru, says there is no respect in this job. 'Poor pay will only push us into debt.' 'The heritage village tag has brought no development or benefit for the weavers,' he adds. A.V. Gopalan, 74, who started weaving at 14 years of age and still works in the Karivellur Weavers Society, says there has been no change and the traditional handloom sector is facing issues due to lack of employment, wages, and benefits. K.V. Santhosh Kumar, secretary of the Kannur District Handloom Societies Association, says Kannur had 65 societies but only 35 survive now. 'Of over 10,000 weavers and workers earlier, only 2,800 are working now, most of them women. Besides wage arrears is an issue in the sector,' he says. He says the government's school uniform project now makes up half the output of most societies. 'Wages of four months coming to ₹4.5 crore are pending for workers in Kannur,' he says adding that his society, Kalliassery Weaver Industrial Cooperative Society, suffered a loss of ₹60 lakh producing 70,000 metres of uniforms. He says GST has further strained finances of the societies. 'Earlier there was no GST. Now, 5% GST on uniform fabric production in unrecoverable, burdening the societies,' he says. He claimed that HANTEX, the apex handloom cooperative, owed ₹10 crore in dues to societies. The sector fears further setbacks with the United States imposing 25% tariff on Indian exports
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Cheengeri Hills is Wayanad's eco-friendly trekking haven
KALPETTA: Wayanad Tourism Department's well-timed strategy to promote Cheengeri Hills as an alternative to manage the growing tourist rush to the ecologically sensitive Chembra Peak is earning widespread praise. One of the district's most popular attractions and a favourite among foreign tourists, permits for trekking to Chembra is restricted to fewer than 100 visitors a day due to its fragile ecosystem. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has proposed Cheengeri Hills -- a lesser-known but equally scenic peak -- as an alternative to address the mounting demand. Situated en-route to Kaduvakuzhi from Sultan Bathery, Cheengeri is known for its gentle slopes and ease of climbing, unlike the forest-clad hills that surround it. The peak is especially famed for its breathtaking views at dawn. While a trek to Chembra costs over Rs 1,000 per person, a trip to Cheengirimala is priced at just Rs 50, making it a budget-friendly and accessible option for travellers. Local trip planners and tour operators in Wayanad have begun recommending Cheengeri Hills to tourists seeking a less crowded, eco-conscious, and economical trekking experience. Over the past few months, the hills have emerged as one of the most popular trekking destinations in the district. 'Cheengeri Hills have been open to visitors for the past few years. However, after assessing the difficulties faced by tourists at other trekking spots including Chembra peak, we decided to actively promote this location,' said Binosh Kunjappan, secretary of the Wayanad DTPC. 'Unlike other forested peaks, Cheengerimala is safe, scenic, and family-friendly, attracting steady footfall throughout the year. On peak days during the season, an average of 300 people trek the hill – a significant number for a new destination.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- The Hindu
Idukki to get heritage tourism project soon
The hilly district of Idukki is all set to get a heritage tourism project. According to officials, the project aims at conserving the rich heritage of the district and popularise it. The project will be implemented in association with the district administration, Tourism department, and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). At a meeting with tourism stakeholders on Tuesday, District Collector V. Vigneshwari announced that the heritage tourism project will be implemented soon. According to sources, authorities will collect data on the major heritage spots in the district soon. 'The old British churches, graves, British-built bridges, tribal art forms, old estate bungalows, dolmens, menhirs, and other historically important sites will be included on the list. After preparing the list, the government will take further steps to implement the project,' said an official. According to the officials, Idukki has a vast potential for heritage tourism. Idukki is filled with British-built constructions, religious and educational institutions. These aspects will provide a new outlook to the tourism sector in the district. The Tourism department is already preparing a heritage tourism project for the elegant British-built St. George CSI Church with its gothic-style architecture at Pallikunnu, near Kuttikanam. During his visit in March, Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas directed the Tourism Director to prepare a heritage tourism project for the church. During the interaction with the tourism stakeholders, Ms. Vigneshwari said the district administration plans to utilise the tourism potential of the district in full. She said the district will prepare a website and arrange facilities for tourists visiting the Idukki dam.' A standard operating procedure (SOP) will be implemented in the district to issue climate-related alerts and other restrictions. A project named Idukki Plaza will be implemented in the district to provide basic facilities to the tourists who arrive there, said the Collector.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- The Hindu
Collector bans off-road MUV safari in Idukki
District Collector V. Vigneshwari on Sunday imposed a ban on multi-utility vehicle (MUV) safari in Idukki under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. According to officials, the Collector imposed the ban following an MUV accident in Munnar recently in which a tourist was killed and 10 were injured. The order stated that the recent event had brought to light the urgent need for regulating vehicular tourism in areas characterised by hilly terrain, narrow and winding roads, steep gradients, and prone to landslides. The operation of such services without official oversight exposes passengers to grave risk, said the order. Lack fitness certificates It further stated that vehicles conducting safaris often lack valid fitness certificates. Most often the vehicles are modified ones which are poorly maintained. Drivers with unverified qualifications, lacking formal training or licensing specific to high-risk terrain and tourist operations are used to conduct services. Lack of uniform safety standards, standard operating procedures, passenger insurance or accountability in the event of accidents are other issues. Noise and ecological disturbance lead to degradation of fragile mountain environments. The services pose serious public safety risks and undermine disaster readiness, according to the order. The Collector further said that to ensure supervision by the district administration, all safari vehicles, including individual, institutional, off-road, and ecotourism safaris, are banned in the district with immediate effect. 'Collect details' To ensure a proper facility, the local bodies are directed to collect the details of the safari vehicles, drivers, and routes under their jurisdiction. A committee comprising representatives from the panchayats, police, Motor Vehicles department (MVD), District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), and the Revenue and Forest departments will examine the details under the supervision of the respective Subcollectors. The list of vehicles and routes should be submitted to the district administration on July 10. Based on the verification, the off-road MUV safari will be resumed with proper guidance, said the Collector. Kolukkumala According to officials, the ban on off-road MUVs did not impact the Kolukkumala off-road vehicle safari. The authorities have already completed safety inspections of the off-road safari vehicles in Kolukkumala. Last week, the MVD completed the inspection of 210 off-road vehicles used for off-road safaris in Kolukkumala. Meanwhile, drivers of MUV vehicles staged protests in various parts of the district on Monday against the sudden ban. They claimed that thousands of people depended on the income from off-road vehicle safaris.
