T’puram: The UDF govt is preparing a fresh blueprint to restore Kovalam beach’s lost international tourism appeal, with an ‘Integrated Tourism Development Project for Kovalam’ envisaged as a multi-department initiative aimed at creating a tourist-friendly ecosystem at the iconic beach destination.The concept note for the proposed project is currently under preparation and is expected to be finalised after Onam. The tourism department plans to subsequently prepare a detailed project report (DPR), with the objective of rolling out at least the initial interventions before the next peak tourism season in Dec.The proposed initiative will bring together the tourism, culture, home and local self-govt departments, among others, with the focus on addressing the longstanding infrastructure and visitor-management problems that have eroded Kovalam’s image as an international destination.A senior tourism department official told TOI that the project would seek to bring back the ‘old glory’ of Kovalam by combining infrastructure improvement, tourist assistance, cultural activities, safety, cleanliness and destination promotion under a single programme.“The department is planning to redevelop Kovalam beach in a big way. There has been a huge dip in foreign tourist footfall at the beach over the last few years. This has to be changed. We need to restore the glory of Kovalam Beach. Hence, we are preparing the concept by infusing several features for the comprehensive development of the beach. It is likely to be implemented by the end of this year once the tourism season starts, the official said.One of the major proposals is to deploy tourist volunteers with proficiency in foreign languages, including German, French, English and other European languages. The volunteers will assist foreign visitors, provide information, guide tourists, and help them communicate with local service providers and authorities.The project will also focus on improving basic amenities at the beaches. This includes replacing damaged streetlights with lighting systems using technology better suited to the corrosive coastal environment. Public toilets, walkways and other visitor facilities will also be upgraded.Kovalam has been struggling with deteriorating infrastructure for several years. Several stretches of the beach walkways and footpaths have been damaged, while streetlights have remained dysfunctional at various locations. The lack of adequate basic amenities has affected the visitor experience, particularly after dark. The presence of stray dogs and concerns over cleanliness and safety are also being addressed as part of the proposed integrated approach.The govt is also looking at promoting night-time tourism in Kovalam, which has so far failed to develop to the extent seen in several other destinations. The proposal envisages creating an environment that encourages visitors to spend more time at the destination after sunset.The culture department will be involved in organising Kerala-specific cultural and artistic programmes in Kovalam. Instead of generic tourism events, the plan is to develop destination-focused programmes showcasing Kerala’s traditional arts, culture, cuisine and heritage to international visitors.The LSG department is expected to coordinate measures relating to cleanliness, waste management and stray-dog control, while the home department’s involvement will strengthen tourist safety and security by deploying Pink Police squads and night patrolling.The new initiative comes against the backdrop of the failure of the previous Rs 93-crore Kovalam and adjacent beaches development project approved by the state cabinet in 2023. The KIIFB-funded project was conceived as a major facelift for Kovalam, with Wapcos appointed as the special purpose vehicle. It envisaged development of Hawa and Lighthouse beaches, renovation of Silent Valley Sunbath Park, improved connectivity to IB Beach and development of adjacent coastal areas.However, the project failed to make significant progress. The tourism department had sought to replace Wapcos, citing poor performance, while the broader project remained stalled.
