Kerala Travel Mart event to promote Kerala tourism
23 Sep 2008
Tourism in India is heading towards a major growth curve, which has ben further boosted by the signing of an agrement between India, Brazil and South Africa for co-operation in the tourism sector.
The trilateral agreement was signed during the Kerala Travel Mart event at at Le Meridian Hotel in Kochi. The 2008 editions marks the fifth Kerala Travel Mart event, a biennial event showcasing the state's tourism. The four-day event concludes on 23 September.
This year's event witnessed a healthy participation of stake holders in the tourism sector with more than 300 business stalls erected at the main venue of the travel mart. ouseboat operators from Alappuzha backwaters showcased 16 high-end house boats, in a bid to attract foreign investors.
The state tourism secretary V Venu said the state would explore new foreign markets, apart from strengthening the existing ones.
The tourism department will organise road shows in Australia including Melbourne to tap the emerging market for tourism, down under. Besides Australia, the state tourism also plans to market the Kerala brand in Canada and China in the future.
According to industry experts, registration of tour operators and resort groups touched an all-time high with 1,300 titles globally, including India.
Kerala tourism is growing and has already attracted an investment of Rs 1,500 crore in the past two years with Norther Kerala poised to become a major tourist destination, said an official of the Kerala Travel Mart Society.
The proposed green field airport in Kannur would give a further boost to tourism in North Kerala, he added.
