Union Minister Shekhawat Urges Kerala to Highlight Iconic Tourist Spots
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Synopsis
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted Kerala's crucial role in India's tourism sector and assured support from the Centre for the state's innovative tourism initiatives. He encouraged focusing on iconic destinations while launching new tourism products.
Key Takeaways
- Kerala's tourism significantly impacts India's tourism growth.
- Focus on iconic destinations and new tourism offerings.
- Support for Ayurveda and beach tourism is essential.
- Centre's involvement is crucial for marketing.
- Arab Travel Mart participation can boost tourism.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 19 (NationPress) Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized on Wednesday that Kerala plays a vital role in enhancing the tourism landscape of India, assuring complete support from the Centre to advance the state’s innovative efforts in the tourism domain.
During a meeting convened to assess the advancement of tourism initiatives in the region, Shekhawat remarked that the state should concentrate on one or two iconic destinations while simultaneously introducing new offerings to increase tourist visits.
In attendance were State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas and Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi.
“Kerala significantly contributes to the evolution of tourism in India. The tourism sector in Kerala possesses immense potential for further advancement. This necessitates the introduction of new offerings, especially focusing on beach, Ayurveda, wellness, heritage, pilgrim, and spiritual tourism. Concurrently, the state should zero in on one or two iconic destinations to strengthen its reputation as a global tourist hotspot,” stated Shekhawat.
He further noted that Kerala has consistently led in attracting visitors through innovative offerings and must maintain that momentum.
Recognizing Kerala's ongoing role in India’s tourism narrative, Riyas urged the Centre to expedite approval for the state’s specialized package aimed at promoting Ayurveda and beach tourism to enhance both international and domestic tourist arrivals, thereby boosting the nation’s foreign earnings.
“The Centre’s backing is crucial for the global marketing initiatives undertaken by the state to position itself as a diverse global destination,” Riyas added.
He also urged the Centre to reconsider its absence from the upcoming Arab Travel Mart, scheduled for next month, as India’s participation would significantly elevate international tourist numbers, highlighting that the Middle East is a crucial market for Kerala Tourism.
The meeting reviewed the status of the Pilgrim Tourism Circuit project, which encompasses Sabarimala, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, and Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple, along with initiatives under Swadeshi Darshan 2.0, the PRASAD project, Thalassery Spiritual Nexus, Beypore, Kumarakom, and the Varkala Sivagiri projects.
It also assessed the progress of various proposals submitted by the state to the Centre.
