Kerala Tourism’s total revenue touched INR21,125 crore in 2012 with 7.94 lakh foreign tourist arrivals in 2012.
The state recorded both direct and indirect revenue of INR19,307 crore in 2011 with 7.33 lakh tourist arrivals. The God’s Own Country received 1.01 crore domestic tourists in 2012 as compared to 93.88 lakh in 2011. The Foreign Exchange Earnings also saw an upswing from INR4,221.99 crore in 2011 to INR4,548 crore in 2012.
The government of Kerala is rolling out two new initiatives to attract domestic and international tourists. The state will develop ‘Seaplane Project’ and ‘Project Muziris’ in order to enhance the travel experience and add to its array of tourist sites. The former project is aimed towards improving last mile connectivity by air to its destinations across state, while the latter is directed to reinstate the historical and cultural significance of the legendary port of Muziris.
Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL) has been appointed as the agency for the implementation of the Seaplane Project. The plan is to provide service initially in the priority circuit, consisting of the three airports of Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut. The prime destinations in the state include Astamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Bolgatty and Bekal.
The Muziris Heritage Site (MHS) stretches across from the municipality of North Paravur in Ernakulam district to Kodungallor in Thrissur district. The project is aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of Muziris.
