Kerala Approves Heli-Tourism Initiative
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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 4 (NationPress) The Kerala government on Wednesday unveiled its heli-tourism initiative.
This decision was made during the weekly cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
As a result of this new initiative, tourist attractions throughout the state will be linked via a helicopter network, making them more accessible to visitors.
Under this initiative, the government will establish essential infrastructure for helicopters, including heliports, stations, and helipads.
The government anticipates that having a definitive policy regarding helicopter use in tourism will rekindle interest among helicopter operators to initiate services connecting various tourist destinations.
Tourism has long been the most lucrative industry in Kerala, and with the heli-tourism policy now in place, it is expected to draw significant private investments to the region.
Previously, due to the absence of such a policy, several prominent ayurveda operators had to abandon their ambitious projects aimed at creating luxurious resorts that offered ayurveda packages in tranquil locations.
Over time, the Kerala Tourism Department has been refining its popular offerings, such as houseboats and caravan tourism, while promoting adventure spots, all amidst the demand for a strategically planned helicopter operation policy.
Last year, Kerala experienced a remarkable increase in domestic tourism, with approximately 2.1 crore visitors, alongside 6.49 lakh international tourists, as per data from the Kerala Tourism Board.
The Kerala government is aiming to welcome 2.2 crore domestic and 8 lakh international tourists in the current financial year.
The tourism sector, like many others, suffered during the Covid pandemic, but now the outlook is positive, with Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas spearheading innovative policies.
