Lethargy in Thrissur District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has brought the tourism development projects here to a standstill, resulting in a fall in the number of tourists. The council has been functioning without an executive committee or chairman to head the projects, for the last few months.

Executive committee, which consists of 3 MLAs and a district collector as chairman should be formed to initiate tourism works. Unfortunately, there has been no executive committee for the past one year. Though, the district collector heads the executive committee. But they are being transferred before taking the charge of DTPC. Last one year has seen three district collectors. These frequent transfers have caused the trouble.

P G Sivan, secretary (in charge) of DTPC said, "Currently, there is no tourism project in the district. We need an executive committee to take a decision on the projects. The DTPC has failed to conduct 'Pooram Nilavu' in the last year because there was nobody to take initiative. Previously, we had been conducting it in Thrissur Pooram."

The number of tourists visiting has fallen drastically. The number of foreign tourists who visited Thrissur has dropped from 70 last year to 50 this year. Similiarly, the number of domestic tourists has dropped from 10,000 to 8,000 this year, Sivan said.

DTPC has 5 tourist destinations namely Azhikode beach, Snehatheeram in Thalikulam, Peechi, Vazhani and Guruvayur. Sivan said: "Visitors like to visit Kerala kalamandalam and Muziris project in Kodungallur. But there were no steps taken to bring the visitors to these five spots."

Former DTPC secretary P N Premkumar said: "The government should form an executive committee soon. Due to lack of planning, the DTPC could not even utilize the 3 to 4 days of holidays in this week properly."

Adding to the woes, the development works of St. Thomas Church in Palayur as a pilgrim spot is on hold for the last 8 months. There were no projects after 2009 other than the Peechi - Vazhani beautification, which is being headed by central and state governments.

TOi