Thiruvananthapuram: The 12th edition of the ‘Malabar River Festival’—Asia’s largest white-water kayaking competition and the country’s premier adventure sports event—will be held from July 30 to August 2 on the Chalipuzha and Iruvazhinhipuzha rivers in Kozhikode.
Kerala’s Tourism Minister, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, stated that the festival is expected to attract international kayakers from over 20 countries, as well as more than 100 participants from across India, thereby underscoring Kerala’s growing prominence as a global destination for adventure tourism.
To build excitement ahead of the main event, approximately 18 adventure sports programs will be organized across the Kozhikode Corporation area and eight neighboring Panchayats.
Highlighting the international appeal of the festival, the Minister noted that last year’s edition saw the participation of 18 foreign kayakers—hailing from countries such as the United States, New Zealand, Chile, Russia, Belgium, Italy, Malaysia, Ukraine, and Nepal—in addition to 85 Indian kayakers.
The organizing committee will function under the patronage of the Tourism Minister, with the Kozhikode District Collector serving as its Chairman. The committee will also comprise elected representatives and members drawn from administrative, political, and cultural spheres.
The event is being organized by the Kerala Department of Tourism in technical collaboration with the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association. The Minister expressed expectations of a large turnout, including adventure sports enthusiasts, stakeholders from the tourism sector, and international kayaking professionals.
Speaking on another matter during the press conference, the Minister stated that the government would consider the feasibility of conducting safety inspections at amusement parks across Kerala.
He emphasized that, alongside ‘Responsible Tourism,’ the state must also focus on promoting ‘Sustainable Tourism,’ adding that discussions would be held with stakeholders before arriving at a final decision.
