States » SouthPosted at: Oct 6 2026 7:52PM


Wayanad tourism should leverage biodiversity, experiential potential sustainably: Panellists

Wayanad, Oct 6 (UNI) Wayanad can emerge as a major tourism destination by harnessing its rich biodiversity and experiential potential in a sustainable manner, panellists said at a seminar held here on Monday as part of the launch of the ‘Brand Wayanad’ project.
The initiative, launched by the State Tourism Department as part of the Kerala Government’s 100-day action plan, seeks to position Wayanad as a distinctive tourism destination by building on its natural, cultural and experiential strengths.
Speaking at the panel discussion titled ‘What Next for Brand Wayanad’, T. Sivaraju, Managing Director of Uravu Ecolinks, stressed the need to create a reliable and comprehensive database on Wayanad’s tourism potential.
He said the existing data on the district’s tourism resources was inaccurate and called for scientifically collected information, particularly as tourism was being considered for industry status to attract investments, including from outside Wayanad.
The potential for local economic development should also be explored, he said, pointing out the emergence of a “service villa” culture in place of the traditional homestay model. A comprehensive survey should take such new forms of accommodation into account, he added.
Saneesh C.S., Biodiversity Lead at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, said Wayanad’s biodiversity should be made a stronger component of its tourism offerings.
Specific efforts should be made to attract travellers interested in biodiversity, he said, explaining how the region’s distinctive topography contributes to its unique biodiversity.
Writer and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Chairman Kalpetta Narayanan said Wayanad’s distinctive identity and natural features must be protected while developing its tourism potential.
He said the region possessed exceptional biodiversity and natural attributes that gave it a unique character, stressing that these qualities should not be compromised in the process of tourism development.
David Raju, General Manager, CGH Earth Experience, said the tourism industry should make a firm commitment to protecting Wayanad’s biodiversity.
Plantation expert Prashanth Rajesh called for appropriate policy and legal support from the government to tap the tourism potential of the plantation sector.
Architect and tourism consultant Sibiraj Raveendran said greater clarity was needed on investment opportunities in Wayanad, particularly in view of the complexities associated with land regulations.
Raghu Narayana Swamy, Co-founder and Operational Director of BB Voyage Pvt Ltd, said homestays would play a major role in the future of tourism in Wayanad.
Sanoop Kumar P.V., Assistant Professor of Travel and Tourism at Pazhassi Raja College, Pulpally, said tourism education should give greater emphasis to skill development rather than treating tourism merely as an academic discipline. He also called for a government order to facilitate such a shift.
Responsible tourism practitioner and sustainable tourism consultant Sumesh Mangalassery called for modernising weather-monitoring systems in Wayanad through the use of advanced technology. Restrictions, he said, should not be confined solely to areas already identified as disaster-prone.
Kerala Tourism Mart Society member Vanchiswaran anchored the panel discussion.
UNI DS
Tags: #Wayanad tourism should leverage biodiversity# experiential potential sustainably: Panellists
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