Kerala to launch all-India campaign to scal e up domestic tourist footfalls in summer
Targeting families/ family holiday makers d uring upcoming School Summer Holidays
Chennai, Mar 19: This time round, the camp aign will be particularly focusing on North K erala, especially Bekal, Wayand, Kannur and Kozhikode, besides lesser-k nown destinati ons with vastly improved infrastructure, the Minister said.
“Tourists from inside the country have alwa ys played a paramount role in making Keral a’s tourism a throbbing enterp rise. This has been the thrust of our pan-India promotiona al campaigns focusing o n reinforcing the s tate’s position as an a ll-season experiential tourism destination for a diverse range of vi sitors”, Shri Riyas pointed out.
“I want to firmly assure that Kerala’s tou rist y appeal not only retains its enduring charm but also keeps evolving with inovative prod ucts and initiatives, strengthening the stat e’s reputation as a welco ming and exciting place for all seasons,” said Kerala Tourism Director Smt. Sikha Surendran.
As domestic visitors account for a formidab le chunk of Kerala’s tourism sector, the stat e has launched an all-India campaign to fir m up partnerships with stakeholders across the country to meet the surge, especially d uring the summer vaca tion for schools.
Combining luxury and leisure, Kerala is fast emerging as a preferred hub for Destination Weddings and MICE (Meeting s, Incentive s, Conferences and Exhibitions) events. Recor ds show that more and more Indians and fo reign nationals are visiting Kerala to walk o n the altar. With its spectacular landscapes, world-class f acilities and seamless blend o f tradition and modernity, the state is also a ttractin ting event planners, couples and co rpor ate clients looking for a distinctive exp e rience, said Smt. Sikha Surendran, Direct or, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala.
During the post-pandemic phase, Kerala To urism was accorded coveted international a nd national honours as a never-miss place. The latest such accolade is fro m leading d igital travel company Bookin g.com, which r anked Kerala as the secon d in the list of th e ‘Most Welcoming Reg ions’ in its 13th Ann ual Travellers Revie w Awards.
Scaling up Kerala’s standing as an adventur e tourism destination, the state is all set to host international Surfing, Paragliding and Mountain Cycling championships in Februa ry-March this year.
The International Paragliding Festival will b e held at Vagamon in Idukki from M arch 19 to 23, and Mountain Terrain Biking Champi onship (MTB Kerala 2025) on March 28 to 30 at Mananthavadi in Wayanad.
The state is unique in having a variety of ex periences for travel enthusiasts like house boats, caravan stays, plantation vis its, jung le resorts, homestays, Ayurveda eda-based wellness solutions, adventur e activities an d countryside walks, including trekking to v erdant hills.
Kerala has witnessed a sharp uptick in dom estic tourist arrivals, surpassing pre-pande mic levels in 2022 while their foototfalls in creased to a record number in 2 023. The in crease in footfalls continued in 2024 with a total of 1,08,57,181 tour ist arrivals from wi thin the country in th he first semester (Jan uary-June).interna Internati onal tourist arri vals are also ex pected to reach pre-COVID levels this y ear as is evident from an up swi ng in boo kings during the ongoing winter h oliday season.
Anticipating a surge in domestic footfall s d uring the summer holiday season, Kerala To urism has planned an array of travel trade n etworking events by organizing B2B roadsh ows pan India to roll out ne w products befo re a wider audience, bes ides active particip ation in major trade fairs.