Kerala to tap beach tourism potential fully

Explore 580km of Kerala's coastline with its stunning seaside getaways, drive-in beach and water sports activities. Enjoy the floating bridge and more!

Kerala is set to utilise the tourism potential of its 580-km coastline dotted by some of the finest seaside getaways that includes Asia’s longest drive-in beach in Muzhappilangad.

Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas said the State needed to realise the potential of beach tourism sufficiently. The government intends to move forward by linking tourist places along its vast seacoast spread across nine of its 14 districts.

Inaugurating the first floating bridge in the district at Papanasam Beach, the seventh in the state, the minister said they 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,” he said. “Kerala’s coastline is ideal for water sports. But there are a few projects now. If effectively utilised, it will immensely contribute to the state’s revenues.”

He 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.

Including these proposals, the minister said, 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,” Mr. Riyas said. 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.