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The recessionary trends prevailing in European countries and the crisis in some of the domestic airlines are likely to have an impact on Kerala's tourism sector this year.
Mr Jose Dominic, member of the executive committee of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI), has said that the economic troubles of Europe have cast a shadow over the State tourism sector as 70 per cent of the foreign tourists visiting Kerala are from Europe.
Mr Dominic, who is also vice-president of South India Hotel and Restaurants Association (SIHRA), in an informal interaction with media persons, said that the crisis faced by Air India and Kingfisher airlines and escalation of airfare has affected the tourism sector. The cancellation of bookings as a result of these developments has gone up to as high as 50 per cent.
Besides, the fluctuations of the rupee had also destabilised the market, as the prices of various imported equipments required for the hotel industry had gone up by 30-40 per cent, he said.
These developments have forced the hospitality industry in the State to focus on the domestic tourism market. As part of wooing domestic tourists, there are plans to organise trade and marketing fairs in the State, Mr Dominic said.
‘Culinary fortnight'
FHRAI also discussed the possibility of holding a “culinary fortnight” in Kochi as part of its marketing initiatives. He said that all hotels under the organisation will participate in the fair.
According to Mr Dominic, the number of foreign tourists visiting the State had gone up from 25,000 in 1980 to 7.5 lakh last year. Kerala's share in the total foreign tourist arrivals into the country increased from 1.5 per cent to 22 per cent during the period. As against this, the total number of domestic tourists reaching the State is around 80 lakh, he said.
FHRAI also requested the State government to rationalise the taxes being faced by the industry and also to introduce a more industry-friendly liquor policy.
The industry, he said, is also committed to implementing the provisions of the new Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA). The FHRAI will take the initiative to set up Food Safety Laboratories in every State.
This will help the players in the industry to make self checks of food standards a regular affair, he added.
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