Champions Boat League set to boost Kerala tourism: Official

An official announced that Kerala is placing its hopes on the upcoming Champions Boat League in September, which is set to take place in the southern state. This event is expected to enhance Kerala's reputation as a prominent year-round experiential tourist destination and contribute to the growth of its tourism sector, added the official on Tuesday (September 12).

Modelled after the cricket IPL, the snake boat race competition is being touted by the state as a major event that it is confident of attracting a large number of tourists.

"After posting an impressive surge in domestic tourist footfall, Kerala has gained further traction as a major all-season experiential destination with its innovative products like the IPL-model Champions Boat League (CBL) races helping the southern state to scale up its standing as a highly-preferred tourist hub," Kerala Tourism secretary K Biju told reporters here.

He said that the third edition of the annual CBL, starting later in September, is expected to boost domestic footfalls in all regions of the state.

"Panned out in the backwaters across Kerala, CBL offers a rare visual treat where magnificent snake boats (Chundan Vallam), powered by scores of rowers on each boat, race over the emerald backwaters creating an aura of zest and zeal," Biju said.

He claimed that the recent trends show that Kerala has turned out to be a glamorous wedding destination.

"With the serene backwaters fringed by swaying palm trees, pristine beaches, the mystic hill stations with sprawling tea plantations, the state has become an ideal place to embark on a new beginning," Biju said.

The state’s core assets like beaches, hill stations, houseboats and backwaters will heighten the totality of the visitors’ experience, he added.

(With agency inputs)