Kerala tourism holds trade meet, eyes to increase tourists' footfall

The Kerala government's Tourism department held a trade meet in New Delhi on Tuesday to encourage the people to visit the state in large numbers. The meet has been arranged to ease the apprehensions of tourists by allowing them to meet and discuss their plans with the state government’s tourism, arts and culture department, private hospitality firms.

New Delhi:Kerala government's Tourism Department, which has launched its second phase of trade meeting last January, had conducted the same in New Delhi on Tuesday, which eyes to attract more tourists towards the gods own country, according to the State Tourism Secretary Rani George.

The meet has been arranged to ease the tourism enthusiasts by allowing them to meet and discuss their plans with the state government’s tourism, arts and culture department, private hospitality firms.

“After completing the first phase, the footfalls of domestic tourists have increased by 16% for the first three quarters in 2019,” Rani George said.

The tourism officer further noted that the travellers from other states are not only visiting the heritage-rich and enchanting spots, they also make spiritual visits.

“More people had come from all over the parts of the country last year to take part in Vishu and Thrissur Pooram,” George pointed.

Nishagandhi Festival, Rani added, “It was conducted in the lush green Kanakakkunnu palace in Thiruvananthapuram January and had also got a great response.”

In the Delhi Tourism Trade Meet of Kerala, about 100 firms have participated.

Tourism Minister Kadakkampally Surendran announced that a Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) will start in September this year, another attempt to enhance Kerala’s tourism environment.

“As our earlier Tourism Trade meets have generated strong results, we further moving ahead. The KTM will be held in Cochin Port Trust in Willingdon Island from 25 to 27th September this year. It will focus global buyers and exploring new markers for champion boat league, adventure tourism and Meetings, Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE),” said Surendran.

The Minister also noted the second phase is being conducted in Delhi after Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam, Kolkata and Guwahati, Amristar and Chandigarh since January 2020.

“As we have planned to conduct these meets in 10 cities, it will be then conducted Jaipur, Chennai and Bengaluru in this February and March 2020.