Kerala is all set to woo tourists across the globe by introducing more projects this year. This move was further boosted with the tourism players adopting the mantra of hartal free days
As part of this initiative, the Department of Tourism is planning to introduce a bunch of projects. It has decided to renovate the Veli tourist village at an estimated cost of Rs 16.5 million. This project encompasses an eco-park, an urban park, and a toy train. Kerala Tourism also plans to build a digital museum at a cost of Rs 90 million at Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram.
Apart from these, the State would also see some of its already initiated projects given the final touch this year like cleanliness in public areas, Renovation of Vaipikotta Seminary, Renovation of Park View building, Heritage village near Karalad Lake, Wayside amenity, Eco- tourism programmes in wildlife sanctuaries, Walkway at Varkala, Marine walkway project at Ernakulam among many others.
Growing at a rate of 13.31%, Kerala shares the eighth rank in the country in attracting foreign tourists, with a total of 1091870 foreign tourist visits in 2017 and 16th in case of domestic travelers according to the statistical report published by the Ministry of Tourism. The sector accounts for 33383.68 crores of revenue generation in 2017, thereby becoming a major contributor to the state’s economy. In a nutshell, tourism contributes to about 10% of the State’s GDP and is responsible for about 15 lakh jobs.
These numbers initially continued in 2018, with both foreign and domestic tourist arrivals registering a growth of 12.13 per cent and 18.57 per cent respectively in the first quarter. However, it was a mixed bag in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the growth fell. Registering just 3.5 per cent and 13.5 per cent respectively over July-September the Kerala Tourism sector, for the first time in over a decade, declared a negative growth for the year. Its prime reasons being the Nipah outbreak, devastating floods and finally the Sabarimala issue.
However, the tourism sector is slowly bouncing back to normal life. Kerala Tourism further plans to launch new, innovative and sustainable tourism projects. These projects are ‘God’s Own Country, People’s Own Tourism’, Water Taxi Boat Service, Revival of Spice Route and making tourist destinations friendly to the differently-abled visitors. With an 18 percent growth in the arrival of foreign tourists in Kerala Health tourism, it is expected to have a steep rise in the coming days.
“With these new projects, Kerala Tourism hopes to bring back the tourism sector of Kerala into a more vibrant level of efficiency, matching international standards.”, says Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism. Such projects along with the State’s impeccable hospitality will definitely make the tourists feel pampered.
REFERENCES – http://www.keralatourism.gov.in/, https://www.keralatourism.org
http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/ITS_Glance_2018_Eng_Version_for_Mail.pdf
https://www.keralatourism.org/news/upcoming-tourism-projects-by-kerala-tourism/284
Wikipedia – tourism in kerala, The New Indian Express, The Hindu
- ANNAPURNA A KAMATH
ECONOMIC EMPIRE 