The Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society has called on the newly elected Kerala government, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, to prioritise the tourism sector through accelerated infrastructure development, streamlined policy reforms, and improved public amenities. The appeal, made on 19 May, underscores the sector's role as one of the state's most significant economic engines, contributing to GDP, employment, and tax revenues across a wide stakeholder base — from hotels and tour operators to taxi drivers and small businesses.

Key Demands from the Industry

KTM Society president Jose Pradeep highlighted a persistent gap in basic tourist infrastructure: despite notable improvements in road connectivity across Kerala, the shortage of clean and accessible public toilets along major tourist corridors — particularly routes leading to Munnar and Wayanad — remains a critical unresolved challenge. Tourists, he noted, are frequently compelled to use hotel facilities due to the absence of adequate public amenities.

The body advocated public-private partnership (PPP) models for establishing and maintaining modern restroom facilities at petrol pumps, supermarkets, and highways, benchmarked against international tourism standards.

Landmark Projects Over Fragmented Initiatives

Rather than pursuing scattered micro-level schemes, KTM urged the government to focus on developing landmark tourism projects in each district, drawing on the success of flagship initiatives such as the Muziris Heritage Project, Jatayu Earth Centre, and Sargaalaya Kerala Arts and Crafts Village. The industry body argued that destination-defining projects generate sustained visitor interest and longer-term economic impact compared with isolated interventions.

Land Conversion Delays Stalling Private Investment

A significant structural concern flagged by KTM is the prolonged delay in land conversion approvals required for hotel and tourism infrastructure projects. According to the organisation, the clearance process can stretch to nearly two years, discouraging private investors and stalling expansion plans. KTM urged the government to introduce a transparent, time-bound clearance mechanism to restore investor confidence.

Coastal and Hill Destinations Need Urgent Attention

KTM secretary S. Swaminathan called for urgent action at several key destinations. He cited the need for renovation of Fort Kochi Beach and revival of long-pending proposals — including the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea' statue and the Fort Kochi–Bolgatty cable car project. Swaminathan also raised concern over declining standards at Kovalam Beach and worsening traffic congestion on the Wayanad Ghat roads.

Tourism Budget Utilisation Under Scrutiny

The body further alleged that only a fraction of the state's tourism budget is directly channelled into tourism promotion. It urged the government to ensure dedicated spending on global marketing, trade fairs, and destination campaigns — particularly ahead of the Kerala Travel Mart scheduled for September. This comes amid growing competition from other Indian states and international destinations for the same traveller segments that Kerala has traditionally attracted.

With a new government in place, the tourism industry is watching closely to see whether the Satheesan administration translates its stated priority for economic revival into concrete, time-bound action for the sector.