Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched new tourism projects across the state to boost the crisis hit tourism sector.

The tourism sector in the state has suffered an estimated loss of around Rs 25,000 crore due to the pandemic. Vijayan said that the epidemic arrived at a time when the tourism sector in the state was thriving after overcoming several crises.

The projects, a state government release said, are spread from the hilltop tourist centre Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram to the northernmost district, Kasaragod. 

The chief minister also inaugurated Malamel Para Tourism Project at Kollam Beach and Thanni Beach.

A release issued by the state tourism department said the inauguration of a Rs 49 lakh beautification project of the Mooloor Memorial at Elavumthitta in Pathanamthitta district, home of the multi-talented poet Mooloor S Padmanabha Panicker, was also held.

Elappara amenity center, the pathway to the finishing point of the Punnamada Nehru Trophy boat race and two two boat jetties, the tourism project as part of the Bhoothathankettu dam in Ernakulam district, the botanical garden, and renovation of the tourist center at Peechi dam in Thrissur are the few projects which were launched.

The gardens at Pothundi and Mangalam dams in Palakkad district have also been renovated to welcome tourists.

The chief minister also inaugurated the Parassinikkadavu Boat Terminal and the Pazhayangadi Boat Terminal, part of the Malnad-Malabar River Cruise Tourism Project.