Surrounded by water bodies, Kochi has always been a sought after destination in the cruise tourism circuit.
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KOCHI: Surrounded by water bodies, Kochi has always been a sought after destination in the cruise tourism circuit. Though many international tourists have visited the shores of the city, the state had little in store for short-term visitors. Despite having a rich cultural heritage, the city lacked a waterfront platform to showcase its performing arts. Putting an end to this dilemma, Kochi will soon get a world-class floating Koothambalam on its shores. The ambitious venture envisaged by the Tourism Department is expected to be launched in August.
Soon, a floating ‘koothambalam’ to woo cruise tourists
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₹4.80-crore performing arts theatre likely to be readied by August
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₹4.80-crore performing arts theatre likely to be readied by August
About one lakh tourists who arrive in Kochi in cruise ships every year will soon be able to watch Kerala’s traditional art forms while seated in a floating ‘koothambalam’ - a cruise tourism facilitation-centre-cum-performing-arts-theatre that can accommodate 300 people at a time.
The structure, which will be readied by August, will largely be based in the waterbody that abuts the international cruise terminal in Willingdon Island, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14. It could be towed to any location in the backwaters, including to Bolghatty Island that had India’s first full-fledged marina on its eastern side, said S. Vijayakumar, Secretary of Ernakulam District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).