THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government today signed an agreement with Morex Group for the development of the prestigious Bekal Tourism Village Project with an estimated investment of Rs 250 crore, which stands out as the first investment proposal to become a reality among a raft of schemes showcased at the Tourism Investors Meet 2023 (TIM).
Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas handed over the the Licence Agreement for the Bekal Tourism Village Project to Sherief Maulakkiriath, Chairman & Managing Director, Morex Group of Companies, Kanhangad, at a function here.
Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Limited (BRDC), a PSU under the Department of Tourism, is the implementing agency of the Bekal Tourism Village Project in Kasaragod district.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Riyas said Bekal Tourism Village Project was presented under Government Project category in the TIM, where investment proposals of Rs 15,000 crore cropped up.
“Several investors evinced interest in this project and so an Expression of Interest (EoI) was invited from them. After scrutinising the documents and following official procedures, Morex Group was selected,” the Minister said.
Riyas said Morex Group will invest Rs 250 crore in two phases for the Bekal Tourism Village Project, which includes tourism activity zones that can be enjoyed by domestic and foreign tourists.
According to Riyas, this project will help ramp up the tourism potential of Bekal and the Malabar region as a whole. He said Bekal is going to grab the attention as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and destination wedding centre.
“As a follow up to the TIM, the newly set up Facilitation Centre is carrying out close scrutiny of investment proposals and in the coming months more projects will become fruitful,” the Minister informed.
Noting that tourism will generate more job opportunities, Riyas said the tourism development needs more private investment in novel projects in the state.
Commenting that the Bekel project will strengthen the public-private partnership (PPP) model, Riyas exuded confidence that the project will be completed in a time-bound manner.
As per the agreement, around 33.18 acres of land at Kolavayal in Ajanur Panchayat, Hosdurg Taluk in Kasaragod district will be handed over to the Morex Group for the Bekal Tourism Village Project. The licence period is 30 years.
E Chandrasekharan, MLA, Kanhangad, who presided over the function, said considering the importance of Bekal as a much sought-after tourism destination, the upcoming project will ramp up the tourism prospects of the place.
Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh welcomed the gathering.
P Shijin, Managing Director, BRDC, who presented the report, said Bekal Tourism Village Project aims at creating the ideas of eco tourism, experiential tourism, adventure tourism, agro tourism, village tourism and cultural tourism in one place. About Rs 50 lakh was announced in the 2022 budget for the initial activities in the area.
Manikandan K, President, Block Panchayat, Kanhangad, and Director, BRDC; T Shobha, President, Grama Panchayat, Ajanur; Sabeesh K, Vice President, Grama Panchayat, Ajanur; Manoj Kumar K, Managing Director, KTIL; Sikha Surendran, Managing Director, KTDC; Mohammed Naif. K, Executive Director, Morex Group, and Khalid Ali M.A. Shaheen, Sponsor, Morex Group, were also present.
