Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala is set to utilise the tourism potential of its 580-km coastline spread across nine of its 14 districts, state Tourism Minister, P A Mohamed Riyas, said here on Tuesday.
Inaugurating the first floating bridge in the district at Papanasam Beach, the seventh in the state, Riyas said it will add to the tourist attractions in these coastal districts.
"There is a huge potential for beach tourism in Kerala, and it will be utilised effectively. Kerala's coastline is ideal for water sports. But there are few projects now. If effectively utilised, it will immensely contribute to the state's revenues," he said.
The minister said many investors had come forward at the first Tourism Investors' Meet held in the state capital last month, expressing their interest in investing in beach tourism.
He added that the government intends to implement more beach tourism projects in public-private partnerships.
"A master plan has been formulated to comprehensively develop Varkala as a major entertainment and pilgrimage centre in the state to be implemented in 2024. New projects like the floating bridge in Varkala, which currently has many water sports activities, will attract more tourists here," Riyas said in a release.
The floating bridge has been set up by the Department of Tourism in association with the District Tourism Promotion Council, Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society and the Municipality of Varkala.
The bridge has a 100-metre length and a three-metre width with pillars on both sides. At the bridge's end is a platform of 11 metres long and seven metre wide, enabling visitors to enjoy the scenery far off the sea, the release said.
Constructed with 1,400 high-density floating polyethylene blocks, the bridge, held by 700 kg anchors, is equipped with all protective measures, including safety boats, life jackets and lifeguards, it added.
Around 100 visitors can enter the floating bridge at a time and move along the sea's waves. The entry will be from 11 am to 5 pm.
