KERALA TOURISM ROLLS OUT NEW INITIATIVES
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Government of Kerala has rolled out two new initiatives – the ‘Seaplane Project’ and ‘Project Muziris’ in order to enhance the travel experience and add to its array of tourist sites. Where the former project is aimed towards improving last mile connectivity by air to its destinations across state, the latter is directed to reinstate the historical and cultural significance of the legendary port of Muziris. This information was revealed at a cultural event that took place in Mumbai ecently.
For the Seaplane Project the plan is to provide service initially in the priority circuit, consisting of the three airports of Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut and the prime destinations of Astamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Bolgatty and Bekal in the state.
The Muziris Heritage Site (MHS) stretches across from the municipality of North Paravur in Ernakulam district to that of Kodungalloor in Thrissur district. Project’s objective is to promote awareness and understanding of the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of Muziris. More than 25 museums will be there to showcase the Muziris Heritage.
Another amazing initiative in the offing is the Spice Route Revival Project. Kerala's initiative to revive and promote the two millennia-old spice route, that links the south western coast of India up to Europe, through tourism has received a boost, with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) pledging support to the venture. Delegates at a three-day international meet in August on Silk Road tourism organised by the UNWTO in the northwestern Chinese city of Dunhuang appreciated a presentation on Spice Route.
Kerala Tourism has come out with a unique nature based soft adventure holidays program NATVENTURE. The idea behind this is to use the key tourism products - Wildlife, Hill Stations, Beaches, Backwaters etc and engage the possibilities of adventure activities they present. Kerala Natventure activities include Trekking, camping, Rock Climbing, Jungle, Wildlife safaris, Bird watching, Cycling, Kayaking, Canoeing and paragliding.
Another forward initiative is the virtual world launch of the new 'Great Backwaters' campaign. Ahead of the traditional media, the campaign is to unveil the state's majestic backwaters as a single destination.
A new campaign, Home of Ayurveda was also launched to promote Ayurveda through all medium. The state also introduced Bakelasa new destination in north Kerala. From a seasonal tourist place, Kerala was elevated to an all season destination through a successful Dream Season campaign launched during the off-season.
To identify and promote 40 new destinations in five years, over 40 new tourist centres have been spotted, project reports prepared and sanctioned for development.
Kerala witnessed 7.94 lakh foreign tourists arrival in 2012 as compared to 7.33 lakh in 2011. Compared to 93.88 lakh domestic tourists in 2011, 1.01 cr domestic tourists visited Kerala in 2012. The Foreign exchange earnings had also gone up from Rs. 4221.99 cr in 2011 to Rs. 4548 cr in 2012. The total revenue, both direct and indirect from tourism touched Rs. 21,125 cr in 2012 compared to Rs. 19,037 cr in 2011.