Tourism Department plans novel schemes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The  Tourism Department is planning to introduce hop-on hop-off services for short sightseeing trips to select destinations. Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar told reporters here that the basic idea of the service is to introduce small conducted tours within a city with more flexibility.The conducted tours will be of a flexible nature. If one tourist for example, wants to spend a little more time at a particular place he would have the freedom to do so. Even if the bus he comes in leaves the place he can opt for another bus.The service will be first introduced in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Fort Kochi, Kochi backwaters and Munnar. Based on the success of the programme, in these cities, similar services will be launched in more places,he said.He also announced the setting up of separate thematic museums to showcase the diverse natural and cultural heritage of the state. The Department of Tourism will extend financial support for starting 10 such museums within a period of 10 years.The museums are being set up as part of the Muziris and Thalasserry heritage projects, he said. He also announced a fast track clearance project to facilitate speedy clearance of the tourism projects with investment above Rs 10 crore.The Tourism Department will initiate discussions with political parties and trade unions to exempt tourism sector from hartals which caused serious inconvenience and loss in terms of money and time to tourists visiting the state.