• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram , June 6

THE State Government has requested the Government of India to permit more direct flights between Kerala and major international tourism markets such as the US, the UK, France and Germany.

Announcing this at a press conference in the city today, the Kerala Tourism Minister, Mr K.C. Venugopal, said the State Government has also requested the Centre to allow more low-cost airlines to fly between Kerala and important domestic destinations.

The lack of flights connecting Kerala with important international tourism markets is a major hindrance to the development of the State's tourism industry, he added.

Similarly, the high cost of domestic air travel makes cheap package tours to South-East Asian destinations more attractive to domestic tourists, he pointed out.

In 2004, the State recorded a 17 per cent increase in international tourist arrivals, the Minister said. The total number of international arrivals grew from 2.95 lakh in 2003 to 3.46 lakh in 2004, while the total number of domestic tourists who visited the State last year was 59.72 lakh.

Kerala Tourism has constituted a committee to develop a business plan for the development of eco-tourism in the State, Mr Venugopal said. Plans for eco-tourism projects in several areas, including Konni, Jadayupara and Irutty, have been prepared.

The tourism department is in the process of implementing a project to transform Bekal into an international tourist destination, he explained.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
AI launches advance check-in facility

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line