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V. Sajeev Kumar

Kochi, Jan. 31 The 45-day Grand Kerala Shopping Festival organised by the State Government during the period between December 1 and January 15 received overwhelming response from trade and business establishments, besides increased participation of consumers.

As many as 2,195 shops including traditional industrial units, ayurvedic resorts etc across the State participated in the festival. Gifts and prizes offered included cars, TV sets, flight tickets for foreign travel etc.

The festival was organised as part of promoting tourism as well as to boost the traditional trading activities in the tourist season of the State.

The Ernakulam District Collector, Mr A.P.M. Mohammed Haneesh, who is also the Chairman of the District Committee of GKSF, said that State Government was able to generate an additional revenue of Rs 88 crore in sales tax throughout the festival period.

The sales tax collection, which was Rs 561 crore in December 2006, had gone up to Rs 649 crore. The numbers are likely to go up as officials are awaiting the final figures, he added.

Given the encouraging trend on the grand shopping gala, Mr Haneesh said, the festival could generate a new momentum for shopping in the State. The Government has, therefore, initiated steps to draw up an action plan to attract more foreign and domestic tourists in the coming years for GKSF by rectifying the shortcomings experienced this time, he added.

Mr K.N. Satheesh, Director, GKSF, said that the objective of the shopping fest is to make it as a regular annual event as well as to create a new shopping season period in the State after the Onam festival season. This is expected to transform Kerala into a major shopping destination in about five years.

The valedictory session of this year’s GKSF will be held at Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday, which will be inaugurated by the State Tourism Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The function will be followed by variety entertainment programmes, he said.

More Stories on : Events | Shopping | Kerala

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