The Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, a pioneering effort by the Kerala Tourism Department, is set to be opened on February 19.

The village-styled ‘Sargaalaya' is spread across 20 acres at Iringal in Kozhikode district, and has been established at a cost of Rs 15 crore. It is part of the Department's ‘Responsible Tourism' initiative that envisages sharing the fruits of the projects with the local people.

The main objective of the new project is to protect and sustain the dying traditional arts and crafts of Kerala and provide better job opportunities and wages to people engaged in these fields. It is designed as to attract tourists from other States and abroad.

The Department floated a global tender last year to select a developer for the village, and Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) bagged the contract. The society has also been entrusted with the management of the village for 10 years.

The village will be a production centre for diverse items crafted out of clay, natural fibres, bamboo, metals, khadi, coconut shells, coir and handloom, among other things. The craftsmen in these sectors will be provided production facilities and avenues for marketing the products.

According to officials, the Tourism Department has embarked on measures to popularise and gain recognition for the village at national and international levels. Also, efforts will be made to sell the products through domestic and international marketing channels and through hotels and resorts.

The village will feature facilities for boating, entertainment, playgrounds, open-air theatre, a conference hall and guest houses. Besides, art forms specific to Kerala will be staged on select days to attract foreign tourists.

The village will be inaugurated by the Home and Tourism Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, at a function to be presided over by the Minister for Industries and Commerce, Mr Elamaram Kareem.

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