The Hindu Business Line : Kerala targets 15 pc growth in foreign tourist arrivals

Domestic tourist inflow is expected to grow by about six per cent this year over the 5.7 million last year. Revenues from tourism might increase by 11 per cent from last year's Rs 5,000 crore.

Kochi , Sept. 14

KERALA, one of the major tourism destinations in the country, is expecting a 15 per cent increase in the arrival of foreign tourists into the State in the current financial year, a top Government official has said.

"Last year, three lakh foreign tourists visited Kerala. Going by the current trends, we are hopeful of a 15 per cent growth in this year," said Mr T. Balakrishnan, Secretary, Tourism Department.

However, compared with the previous fiscal, this growth rate is lower. In 2003-04, foreign tourists inflow into the State surged 26.8 per cent over the previous year. Mr Balakrishnan said this kind of growth was not sustainable over a long period of time.

"Last year, we had an unusually high growth which is not sustainable over a longer time. Actually, we are targeting a nine per cent growth for the long term," he said here at the sidelines of a press conference.

Domestic tourist inflow is expected to grow by about six per cent in the year over the 5.7 million last year. Mr Balakrishnan said revenues from tourism would increase by 11 per cent in the current year, from Rs 5,000 crore the State earned last year.

"We are definitely positioning Kerala as premium tourist destination," he said.

The newly appointed Tourism Minister, Mr K.C. Venugopal, earlier said at the press meet that Kerala would be giving a thrust on backwater tourism during the year and a new project report in this regard would be drawn up soon. The State would also focus its attention on developing infrastructure around key tourist spots, he said. The country's first ever marina, where berthing and mooring facilities for deep-sea luxury yachts, is being developed at the recently reclaimed land in Kochi.

The project is a joint venture between Tourist Resorts (Kerala) Ltd and Trans Resource Corporation of Malaysia. The Minister said work on this project would commence soon.

An international boat show, which will display several international brands such as Fairline Boats, Princess Yachts, Sunseeker-UK and Gulf Craft and Majesty Yachts, is also being organised in Kochi during October 8-10 this year.

A number of Indian companies engaged in boat building and marine equipment are also participating at the event. Already 61 exhibitors have confirmed participation.

Another major tourism event to be held in Kochi is the forthcoming Third Kerala Travel Mart, an international business-to-business forum for the industry.

This year, as many as 358 international industry professionals representing over 280 organisations in 49 countries will participate at the event, beginning on September 30.