Kerala Tourism sees tremendous growth despite adverse conditions

Over the past four years, the tourism sector has grown exponentially through various extensive campaigns at the international level, as well as development activities in existing tourist destinations and the development of new destinations. This growth has survived major crises such as the Okhi, the Nipah, and the floods of 2018 and 2019.

Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Coorperation, Dewasoms and Tourism, said the tourism sector in the state has witnessed tremendous growth in the last four years. During the period, the tourism industry has grown exponentially as a result of various international and extensive campaigns, developments in existing tourist destinations and the development of new destinations. This growth has survived major crises such as the Okhi, Nipah, and the floods.

The Champions Boat League was organised to attract tourists from all over the world by connecting various boat races held in Kerala. In 2019, the Champions Boat League boat race was successfully held in 12 centers in the State.

A heritage project of Rs.10 crore is being implemented for the renovation and protection of Chala Heritage Street in Thiruvananthapuram district. The first phase was inaugurated recently. In Madavoorpara, a tourism infrastructure development project was implemented at a cost of Rs.7 crore. The Kozhikode Mithai Street Heritage Project was completed at a cost of Rs 6.5 crore and dedicated to the country.

The second phase of the Jatayupara Tourism Project, the first public-private partnership tourism project in the state, has been completed. Phase III work was now under progress.

The Responsible Tourism Mission has set up 15,518 new units in the state, directly and indirectly employing 78,000 people in the tourism sector. The Green Carpet Project has been launched to ensure the basic facilities for tourists in the tourism sector in Kerala. The Green Carpet project is being implemented in collaboration with local bodies, community organisations, NGOs and the student community.

The Pepper project was initiated under the auspices of the Responsible Tourism Mission to ensure local participation in the tourism development process. All the major tourism destinations in Kerala have started the process of making themselves differently able-friendly. In the first phase, about 100 centers became diversity-friendly.

A project of Rs.10 crore has been completed to start the first train service in Kerala which will facilitate tourists visiting Veli Tourist Village. The construction work of a project worth Rs.34 crore has been started to set up a convention centre, tourist facilitation centre, eco park and urban park on the land acquired 20 years ago for the comprehensive development of Veli Tourist Village.

To make the Thenmala eco-tourism project more attractive, a light and sound show project has been completed at a cost of Rs.5 crore and opened to the public. Projects worth Rs.60 crore have been started in prominent tourist destinations in Thiruvananthapuram district such as Kovalam, Shankhumugham, Akkulam and Varkala.

Renovation work has started with administrative approval for a project of Rs.10 crore to preserve the Kanakakunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram and to set up a digital museum for tourists. Renovated on the model of Vellar Craft Village Sargalaya. The first phase of `10 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a convention centre and digital museum at Chempazhanthi Gurukul, the birthplace of Sree Narayana Guru, to provide tourists with a biography and vision of Sree Narayana Guru. Construction is in full swing.

Construction work on a new 56-room guest house at Guruvayur has started at a cost of Rs.24 crore. It will be completed within a year. The Minister said that the Swadeshi Darshan project worth Rs.100 crore has been completed on time with the help of the Central Government to make the Padmanabhaswamy Temple area in Thiruvananthapuram attractive.

The State Government has approved a project of Rs.50 crore for the Malabar and Malnad River Cruise Project and the construction of more than 15 boat terminals is nearing completion. The Malabar and Malnad River Cruise Project, which will cost Rs.325 crore, will increase the tourism potential of Malabar. The heritage conservation project is being implemented in the ancient trading centers of Kerala such as Alappuzha, Thalassery and Ponnani. The Minister said that steps have been taken to implement a heritage conservation project based on heritage monuments in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts.