Economic Review calls for revival of Kerala tourism

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Economic Review has singled out tourism as the biggest growth-driver in the state. The Review, which was tabled in the Assembly on Thursday, has called for the revival of the sector, which had contributed Rs 26,689.63 crore to the state in 2015. The major concern flagged by the Review is the virtual drying up of foreign tourists. The growth in foreign tourist arrivals to the state dropped below national average in 2014 for the first time in a decade. “Further, the state has been witnessing a declining growth rate especially after 2010, which is a matter of concern,” the ER noted.

In 2010, the growth rate was 18.31 percent, which dropped to 8.12 percent by 2013 and further to 5.86 percent in 2015. Kerala stands seventh in the total number of foreign tourist arrivals to the country, and accounts for 12.2 percent of arrivals to the country in 2015. The ER wants Kerala Tourism to transform into a 365-day destination. “The Department of Tourism has taken many measures to make Kerala an all-time destination and promoted products like monsoon tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition) tourism and customised packages for off-season months,” the ER said.

“These initiatives need to be continued and products that fit all seasons should be introduced to convert tourism to a regular activity generating sustainable income and full-time employment,” it adds. The ER also wants the concentration of tourists in certain districts like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Alappuzha and Kottayam to change. "The northern part of the state is still lagging in attracting foreign tourists," the ER noted.