FM Thomas Isaac hints at liberal liquor policy

Thiruvananthapuram: Though Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac steered clear of mentioning anything about liquor policy in his budget speech, he has given enough hints about LDF government's plan to come up with a liberal excise policy.

Taking part in a post budget discussion in a news channel, Isaac said the present liquor policy which was brought by previous UDF government had proved disastrous for the tourism sector. The number of tourists visiting the state was going down and one of the reasons was the flawed policy, he said.

“I know a person in Mararikulam who runs a hotel there. He is now sending his business to Sri Lanka,” he said while referring to adverse impact of the policy on state’s tourism sector. None of the tourists come to Kerala just to get drunk. It is part of their social culture to have a drink in the evening.

Isaac said the government would speak to the stake holders, elicit the response of the people and take appropriate decisions. “All these issues will be factored in and we have already made it clear that decision will be take after wide-ranging discussions,” he said.

The finance minister was responding to queries from tourism and travel industry on no mention of liquor policy in the budget speech. The representatives of the industry pointed out that UDF’s excise policy had destroyed the tourism sector.  

They said hundreds of conferences which used to be held in Kerala, are now moving away to other states like Goa and Rajasthan and even foreign destinations.

Meetings Incentive, Conference and Exhibition Tourism segment has also been hit hard because of the new liquor policy. According to industry people, organisers and sponsors of these events were heading for Sri Lanka and Thailand where all facilities are being offered to the visitors.

Last year the tourism department had targeted to attract over 1.37 crore tourists including 12 lakh foreign tourists. However, it could get only 12465571 domestic and 977479 foreign tourists.