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Aimed at revitalising the Kerala tourism industry, the state government is gearing up to launch 'Mission 2030,' in 2024. Tourism Minister Mr P. A. Mohamed Riyas spoke about the master plan at a seminar on tourism held as part of Keraleeyam, a fest showcasing the achievements of Kerala in various fields. He said that the master plan will carry policies and suggestions on matters including increasing the contribution of tourism to the state's GDP from the current 12% to 20%.
The major focus of Kerala Tourism in 2024 will be leveraging private investment on a larger scale, the minister said.
“Rapid decentralisation in the tourism sector is crucial for the state to reap the benefits from tourism. The Tourism Investors’ Meet is a key step in that direction which will also serve as a venue for discussing new ideas and opportunities with investors,” he said.
“We have to increase private investments in the tourism sector where the co-operative sector and individuals can also partner with the government. The Glass Bridge at Vagamon is an example of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model; still we are yet to fully utilise the potential of PPP models,” he added.
Heli Tourism and Cruise Tourism will be developed in partnership with private players next year. The renovated 132-year-old Feroke Bridge across Chaliyar River will be dedicated in 2024. Work on another bridge at Aluva will commence in 2024. All these projects are being implemented with the co-operation of public and private sectors, Mr Riyas said.
“The innovative ‘Kerala Model’ of tourism development has set an exemplar for the entire world on account of its emphasis on sustainability and inclusivity,” he said.
Mr Riyas also hailed the contributions of the Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM) and other stakeholders to the sector, and the globally-acknowledged activities of the State Responsible Tourism Mission (RTM).
Tourism Secretary Mr Biju K. said that the tourism sector contributes 10 percent of the state's GDP, and the total employment generation in this sector is about Rs 15 lakhs.
