Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO), the autonomous body formed by hoteliers, activity partners and Ayurveda service providers of Wayanad in Kerala, plans to tap the domestic leisure tourism market for its monsoon carnival Splash next year. The event formed with the aim to promote Monsoon Tourism in the region, is scheduled to be held on July 8-10, 2011. WTO plans to engage into joint promotional activities with Kerala Tourism for the event. Kerala Tourism has also decided to add Splash 2011 into its calendar of events for the next season. It expects about 300 travel agents and tour operators to attend the event next year and will showcase adventure sports and cultural activities of the state at the carnival.

WTO will participate in road shows and travel marts organised by Kerala Tourism to promote the event. “The members of WTO, who will participate in TTF-OTM will also promote the carnival through their individual stalls. WTO will also have stall spaces in the upcoming nine-city Kerala Tourism road show. This will help promote the carnival across the country,” informed Vanchi Swaran, General Secretary, WTO. The organisation will also launch monsoon packages for 2011. Besides engaging in advertising and media publicity initiatives, WTO will also organise two familiarisation trips this year. Details of the same are currently being chalked out.

Splash recently concluded its second edition which was attended by 150 travel agents and tour operators from across the country. It showcased adventure sports activities like white water rafting, biking, and river- crossing at the carnival this year. In the first edition of the event in 2009, it was presented only to the local community with indoor and outdoor programmes including seminars on agriculture, photography, and cultural performances in the evenings.

While Kerala has been promoting Monsoon Tourism quite aggressively, Wayanad has been the only region in the state to launch such dedicated efforts to create an event around Monsoon Tourism.