KOZHIKODE: Kerala Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Saturday said that in the last few years the state tourism department was trying to make Kerala a key tourism destination.
Inaugurating a one-day seminar at Iringal Art and Craft Village, in Kozhikode, Balakrishnan said that during the last year about Rs 13,000 crore income was received from the tourism sector in the state.
Around 12 lakh people are directly or indirectly depending on tourism for their livelihood, he said.
About 6 lakh foreign tourists had visited the state during the last year, he said, adding while around 75 lakh domestic tourists had also visited the state.
Balakrishnan said the government has plans to set up Craft villages in the state. Kerala tourism department's 'craft village' had already started functioning at Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram.
The minsiter said they have plans to start a 'craft village' at Azhikode in Kannur district and a Coir village to attract foreign tourists.
The construction work of the two craft villages at Kovalam and Iringal was expected to the completed by December this year, and would be inaugurated during the last week of December, he said.
Thirtythree cottages have been constructed in the village at Iringal for the artisans to work, he said, adding the tourists who visit the village could watch the handicrafts being made and buy them from the village itself.
The Iringal craft village is spread in 20 acres of land on the banks of Moorad river near Badagara in Kozhikode district.
All efforts made to restore peace
KOZHIKODE: Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Saturday said all efforts have been taken to restore peace at nearby politically sensitive Nadapuram in Kozhikode district which witnessed clashes between the CPI(M) and Muslim League activists, after the civic polls.
Speaking to mediapersons after a highlevel meeting of officials to review the situation in the area, Balakrishnan said police have arrested a few people involved in the violence and a few more have to be booked.
About 300 police personnel will camp in the area to control recurrence of violence, he said.
'Jagratha Samithis' comprising people and police have been formed to bring peace in the area, he said.
Among those attended the meeting included ADGP Mahesh Kumar Singla.