Noting that Kerala is a significant contributor to the growth of tourism in India, Union Minister for Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat promised total support of the Centre to take forward the state’s pioneering initiatives in the tourism sector. Speaking at a meeting held here to review the progress of tourism projects in the state, Shekhawat said the state should focus on one or two iconic destinations even as it unveils new products to boost tourist footfall. Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas and Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi were present.
“Kerala contributes immensely to the growth of tourism in India. Kerala’s tourism sector holds huge potential for further growth. This calls for the launch of new products, especially focusing on beach, Ayurveda, wellness, heritage, pilgrim, and spiritual tourism. At the same time, the state should focus on one or two iconic destinations to further consolidate its standing as a global destination,” Shekhawat said.
Kerala has been at the forefront of attracting tourists by introducing novel products, and it should continue to do so, he added. Holding that Kerala will continue to be a key contributor to India’s tourism growth story, Riyas wanted the Centre to clear the state’s proposal for a special package focusing on Ayurveda and beach tourism to scale up international and domestic arrivals, which will help increase the country’s foreign earnings.
The centre’s support is vital in the global marketing campaigns being carried out by the state as a global destination of diverse attractions, Riyas said.
He requested the Centre to reconsider its decision to stay away from the Arab Travel Mart, scheduled for next month. India’s participation in the Arab Travel Mart will boost international tourist arrivals to the country. The Middle East is a key market of Kerala Tourism, he said
Shri Suman Billa, Additional Secretary (Tourism), Government of India; Shri K Biju, Secretary Tourism, Government of Kerala; and Sikha Surendran, Director, Department of Tourism, were also present. Sikha Surendran made a presentation on the major tourism projects being implemented in the state. The meeting reviewed the progress of the Pilgrim Tourism Circuit project, which includes Sabarimala, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, and Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple; the projects under Swadeshi Darshan 2.0; the PRASAD project; the Thalassery Spiritual Nexus project, Beypore, Kumarakom; and the Varkala Sivagiri projects. It also reviewed the progress of projects submitted by the state to the Centre.