Harrisons Malayalam Promotes Plantation Tourism to Help Wayanad’s Comeback

KALPETTA:
Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) is scaling up its plantation tourism activities to help Wayanad revive and create jobs after parts of the hill district were devastated by the July-end landslide, the worst in the country.

The company’s tourism activities are mostly based in Achoor, Chundale, and Sentinel Rock plantations. The attractions include visits to its tea museum, zip line, tea factory, ATV ride and camping.

HML CEO Cherian M George said the children’s adventure park next to the tea museum will be fully operational by next month. “We are fully committed to the local communities as an important partner in the Wayanad plantation sector,” he added.

Around 17.5 lakh tourists come to Wayanad annually, contributing Rs 3,165 crore to the state’s economy. The hill district has been losing around Rs one crore daily in tourism revenue due to the natural calamity.

George said the company employs 140 locals directly and indirectly in the plantation tourism sector. More people will have opportunities in the region with increased tourism activities.

“We expect Wayanad’s tourist attractions to become visitors’ favourite destinations as they become active in the coming days,” he added.

“We are looking for opportunities to conduct various activities in collaboration with the best agencies in India that conduct such tourism activities,” he said.

Sunil John Joseph, Head- New Ventures Department, said the entire tourism activity had slowed down in Wayanad following the disaster. “Efforts are being made to bring back this sector by fully utilising the potential of plantation tourism.”

The Tourism Department and the Wayanad District Tourism Promotion Council have been actively supporting the initiatives.

Harrisons Malayalam has been running plantation and adventure tourism activities since 2017. The plantation major focuses on adventure tourism in addition to plantation tourism and traditional hospitality in its plantation bungalows.

On July 30, Wayanad witnessed India’s worst-ever landslide, devastating the villages of Punchirimattam, Chooralmala and Mundakkai.