Tourism News

Kerala Tourism launches Destination Challenge

Published in Newsletter Issue No. 347 - July 2022

The Kerala Tourism in association with the Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) has launched a Destination Challenge project aiming to identify at least one tourism destination within the purview of every local self-government institution in the state. The Kerala government has given administrative sanction for Rs 50 crores for implementing the project.

The Minister for Local Self-Government Mr M. V. Govindan said the initiative would help local bodies find financial resources to bring unexplored destinations on the tourism map. “Tourism is an ideal sector for panchayats, municipalities and corporations to become job-providers and attain financial stability,” he added.

The Tourism Minister Mr P. A. Mohammed Riyas said through the project the government was planning to develop at least 500 tourism destinations in four years. The project comes into being as part of government efforts to form a new tourism culture in the state. 

The Tourism Department will bear 60% (maximum ?50 lakhs) of the total cost of the project. The LSGIs will have to find the rest of the amount either from their fund or through sponsors. The project also aims to link tourism activities with projects of LSGIs, giving an impetus to domestic tourism, which has gained popularity after the pandemic.

The details of the project can be had at www.keralatourism.org/destination-challenge.