(Tourism Minister opens Rs 3-crore Amenity Centre at the church )
TTT NEWS NETWORK
KOLKATA, 22 OCTOBER 2023:
Madre de Deus Church at Vettucaud, a major pilgrim centre on the coastal suburb of the state capital, will be made part of the State Heritage Tourism Project, Tourism Minister , P A Mohamed Riyas said.
Mr. Riyas was speaking after inaugurating the Amenity Centre at the church built by the state government at a cost of Rs 3 crore as part of the Pilgrim Tourism Project recently.
Considering its spiritual significance, the Vettucaud Church, located close to the Trivandrum International Airport and Shanghumugham and Veli tourism centres, has great potential to become a major pilgrimage tourism centre, Mr.Riyas said.
Madre de Deus Church is visited by devotees cutting across religious lines, and as such, is a symbol of Kerala’s inclusive mindset and social harmony and fraternity, Mr. Riyas added.
Kerala has great potential to develop Heritage Tourism as a major domain. This is why Kerala Tourism has drawn up plans to protect centuries old places of worship in various places in the state. This is part of the larger project of preserving tangible heritage of historical importance and attract visitors, the tourism Minister said.
Illumination of historical structures in the state capital under the Travancore Heritage project has made the visit to the city a more pleasant experience, especially in the evenings, he added.
Transport Minister, Mr. Antony Raju, who presided over the function, said the Vettucaud Church should be declared an international spiritual tourism centre since it is visited by thousands of pilgrims every day. This will also help tap the tourism potential of the panoramic area and the local community, he added.
Mr. Kadakampally Surenderan, MLA, was the chief guest at the function.
Overlooking the sea, the Madre de Deus Church under the Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, is major Christian pilgrim centre of south India.
The amenity centre at the church, developed as a three-storey structure, was included in the ‘Thatvamasi’ project for promoting pilgrimage tourism and create basic amenities for visitors, and the work started in 2021. The complex has nine rooms, 14 toilets, a dormitory, utility room, lobby, waiting area, cafeteria, kitchen and electrical room.
Mr. Clinus Rozario, Chairman, Welfare Committee, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Mr. Seraphine Fredy, Ward Councillor, Shanghumugham, Mr. Rajeev GL, Deputy Director, Department of Tourism, Rev Fr Edison, Vicar, Vettucaud Parish, and Mr. Xavier Pereira, Pastoral Council Member, were present.
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