Kerala Sets Sights on 5 Million Foreign Tourists, 100 Million Domestic
Kerala aims to raise annual foreign tourist arrivals from 8 lakh to 5 million and domestic visits from 25 million to 100 million, the Chief Minister said at Kerala Travel Mart.
Kerala has set an ambitious target of attracting five million foreign tourists and 100 million domestic tourists annually, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced while inaugurating the 13th edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) in Kochi on Thursday.
Foreign tourist arrivals to the State currently stand at around eight lakh a year, and domestic visits at roughly 25 million. The government wants foreign visitors to extend their stays to at least seven days, the Chief Minister said.
The three-day B2B travel mart, running from September 25 to 27 at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres on Willingdon Island, features 383 stalls displaying the State's tourism offerings. More than 3,000 buyers have registered for the event.
Coastline and waterways
Mr. Satheesan said the government is working to make optimal use of Kerala's 600-km coastline, including by integrating ports, with the vision of turning the entire State into a port city. The aim is to move at least half of goods transport from roads to waterways, which are cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Cruise terminals are planned at Vizhinjam and Kozhikode, while river cruises are envisaged across the State.
New projects in the pipeline
An oceanarium and an international maritime museum are planned for Kochi, along with an international convention centre near Cochin International Airport. The government is also looking to identify a permanent venue for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. A culture park has been proposed in Kozhikode, and the Thiruvananthapuram zoo will be shifted towards the forest boundary, with its sprawling premises to be redeveloped on the lines of New York's Madison Square, the Chief Minister said.
Ayurveda, weddings and Onam
Presiding over the function, Tourism, Culture and Cinema Minister P.C. Vishnunadh said Kerala Tourism is promoting Ayurveda and wellness tourism in line with global preferences. Monsoon and farm-stay tourism and destination weddings are among the other products being pushed. Efforts are also on to market the Onam festival to an international audience, with the slogan 'Be a Malayali for a Day' inviting visitors to share the State's food, discover its traditions and join the celebrations.
Cooperation and Excise Minister M. Liju said the government would take note of concerns raised by tourism stakeholders regarding the excise policy. Tourism Secretary K. Biju, Union Tourism Ministry Joint Secretary S. Harikishore and KTM Society president Jose Pradeep also spoke at the event.