Tourism News
Varkala Successfully Hosts Second Edition of International Surfing Festival
The second edition of the International Surfing Festival concluded successfully at Edava Beach in Varkala, after three days of spirited competition. Over 50 athletes, including participants from various countries, competed across multiple categories, underscoring Varkala's growing prominence in international adventure tourism.
In the competitive events, Kishore Kumar secured first place in the Men's Open category, achieving 13 points to edge past his nearest competitor, who scored 11 points. Sugar Shanti Banarse emerged victorious in the Women's Open category, while Harish P won the Groms 16 & Under Boys event, scoring 13.84 against his competitor’s 7.64 points. Additionally, Team Percy triumphed in the International Aloha Tag Team category, scoring 17.37 points.
The Kerala Tourism Department spearheaded the event, supported by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) and the Thiruvananthapuram District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). Technical backing was provided by the Surfing Federation of India (SFI) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).
Film actor and surfing enthusiast Sudev attended the closing ceremony and distributed prizes to the winners. Edava Grama Panchayat President A Balik, DTPC Secretary Satheesh Miranda, KATPS CEO Binu Kuriakose, and representatives from SFI, Ram Mohan and Navas, were present.
Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister, Kerala Tourism, inaugurated the festival, emphasizing the government's commitment to developing Kerala as a prime hub for adventure sports like surfing, trekking, and cycling. The Minister noted that initiatives such as the surfing festival had significantly boosted tourism, evidenced by a substantial increase in visitors to Varkala compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Additional planned events by Kerala Tourism include the Mountain Terrain Biking Championship (MTB Kerala) at Mananthavady in Wayanad in May and the International White Water Kayaking Festival in Kozhikode scheduled for July 24-27. These events collectively highlight the state's continued focus on promoting adventure sports and enhancing its global tourism profile.
