Kapu (TOI): Beach tourism in Kapu is all set to receive a major fillip with Udupi district administration planning a beach utsav in April, noted minister for urban development and district in-charge Vinay Kumar Sorake said. The district is blessed with natural resources that are vastly conducive for development of tourism and events such as beach utsav will ensure that places such as beaches that attract tourists are optimally exploited and tourism promoted.

Inaugurating Suggi-Huggi 2015-16, a folk programme organised by departments of Kannada and Culture, tourism and Association of Coastal Tourism, Udupi and a programme to distribute tourist taxis to SC/ST and BCM candidates on Saturday, Sorake said if exploited properly, Udupi can develop local tourism on lines with Kerala and Goa. Beach utsav at Kapu will be an annual affair henceforth and area leading to the beach has been developed at a cost of Rs 87 lakh, he said.

Events such as Suggi-Huggi go on to depict the culture, traditions and history of the land, Sorake said adding it gives people an opportunity to witness these facets from other districts as well. Suggi Huggi saw Sadananda Kodi Bengre troupe present Dollu Kunitha, chende recital by Vasanth Kolya troupe from Mangaluru, pugadi-damani dance from Lakshmi Siddi and troupe from Yellapura in Uttara Kannada district, and veeragaase from Prasad and troupe as well.

Sorake distributed tourist taxis to 12 candidates on this occasion. Kapu Diwakar Shetty, former president of DKMUL and president of Kaup CA Bank, Manohar Shetty, president of Association of Coastal Tourism, K Vasudev Shetty, managing director of Deviprasad Constructions Pvt Ltd, Yatish Baikampady, CEO of Kapu Beach Development Committee were present. B Devadas Pai, assistant director, department of Kannada and culture welcomed the gathering.