CM sets target of 5 million foreign, 100 million domestic tourists for Kerala

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has set ambitious targets for Kerala's tourism industry. He aims to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the state each year from eight lakh to five million, with each tourist staying for a minimum of seven days. Efforts are also underway to boost domestic tourism, currently at 25 million, to 100 million.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the 13th edition of Kerala Travel Mart, a B2B event featuring 383 stalls showcasing the state's tourism products. Held at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres on Willingdon Island, over 3,000 buyers have registered for the mart. The government is also working on utilizing Kerala's extensive 600-km coastline, including the integration of ports, to shift at least 50% of goods transport from roads to waterways.

Cruise terminals are being planned at Vizhinjam and Kozhikode, while river cruises are envisioned across the state. An oceanarium and an international maritime museum are in the pipeline in Kochi, while an international convention center is being planned near the Cochin International Airport. Efforts are also being made to identify a permanent venue for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.

Culture parks are being planned in Kozhikode, and the Thiruvananthapuram zoo will be shifted towards the forest boundary, being converted into a large park. The state is promoting Ayurveda and wellness tourism, as well as monsoon and farm stay tourism, and destination weddings. International marketing efforts are being made for the Onam festival, with the slogan 'Be a Malayali for a Day' being used to invite visitors to experience Malayali culture.