In a move to developPaithalmalain the Kannurdistrict as a major hill tourism destination, thePaithalmalatourism consortium will organize WesternGhatfestival on Tuesday."The consortium aims at utilizing the potential of the place, which is known for its cool weather and high altitude, with the active support of tourism entrepreneurs. This will be beneficial for common people especially farmers in the locality," said consortium chairman E Kunhiraman at a press conference here on Thursday. Tourism minister A P Anilkumar will inaugurate the festival and rural development minister K C Joseph will preside over the function.
"Though Paithalmala is the second highest peak in the state after Anamudi and has a climate resembling Coorg and Ooty, the place is yet to gain prominence in the tourism map," said Kunhiraman. Although the district tourism promotion council has built a guest house here, it is non-functional and yet to receive power connection. The consortium has already demanded immediate steps to ensure power supply and hand over the guest house to KTDC for efficient management. Once the place is developed as a tourism destination it would benefit the farming sector here, opined the consortium, which has set up a 101 member organizing committee under Eruvassery panchayat president Margaret Mathew.
Acting as a facilitator, the consortium intends to focus on medical tourism, eco-tourism as well as tourism that is sustainable and promotes our heritage. As part of the fest, farmers will be honoured and a seminar onentrepreneurshipin agriculture will be organized. An exhibition of agricultural products will also be held at Paithalmala.Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-25/kozhikode/36547041_1_tourism-map-tourism-destination-ktdc
