Tourism News

With over 595 institutions registering for the event so far, the second edition of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival is already on its way to scripting a success story. With just one and a half month left for the mega shopping extravaganza, the response in the coming days is expected to be more encouraging. The festival is scheduled to commence on December 1, 2008 and most of the preparatory works are almost over. An advertising campaign of 80 million rupees is being carried out and an amount of 150 million rupees has been allotted in the budget, too. The online registration of the shops is also going in full swing. Almost all the trading communities have extended their whole-hearted support to the event.

Last year, as part of the GKSF, there was an added earning of 30,000 million rupees. This time, double the amount is expected, said Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Tourism. Kerala has already won attention as a tourism hub and, it should be made into a shopping hub as well, the minister said. Kerala Tourism proposes to conduct regular trade fairs in the state. A permanent trade centre will be formed towards this end. Since the tourist season of Kerala coincides with the GKSF, there will be added advantages, he remarked.

Dr. Venu, V., Secretary, Kerala Tourism, has also expressed contentment over the remarkable response that the festival receives.