Kerala Tourism is looking for big-ticket foreign investments in innovative projects to be tabled in next month’s global connect initiative — Emerging Kerala.
The tourism department has identified a handful of projects for private sector participation across the state. These include a luxury hotel project in the upcoming Edu Health City at Panakkad and a Destination Development Boat Club at Thirurangadi — both in Malappuram district, Adventure Sports Arena at Vagamon, Mist Valley Resort and Spa and a Spice Valley Resort in the hill district of Idukki.
These apart, an underwater aquarium at Arookutty in coastal Alappuzha district, Marine Leisure Island at Dharmadom in Kannur district and a botanical garden and forest lodge at Nelliampathy in Palakkad district have also been planned.
Realising the potential of the sector, the government has set up a cabinet sub-committee headed by chief minister Oommen Chandy for the speedy approval of tourism projects .
Tourism minister AP Anilkumar said the government had come out with a tourism policy that seeks to beef up state’s infrastructure and involve people’s participation on a bigger scale. “We are creating an atmosphere that would enable potential investors to be our long-term partners of growth, he said.
The minister said infrastructure development at tourism destinations was one of the government’s priority areas. The tourism department will prepare infrastructure plans for major destinations in association with other government departments.
The state government has unveiled a new tourism policy in June targeting an annual growth of 15 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals and 7 per cent in domestic arrivals. It has set a target of 3 million foreign tourists and 18 million domestic tourists by 2021.
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Foreign tourist arrivals grew 11.18 per cent to 732,000 in 2011 as compared with 659,000 in the previous year. Domestic tourists stood around 9.3 million as against 8.5 million, a growth of 9.15 per cent.
The policy also envisages the need to promote Ayurveda, backwaters, adventure tourism, eco-tourism and medical tourism under Responsible Tourism.
It also includes a campaign on ‘Kerala Waste-Free Destination’, ten thematic museums in the next decade to showcase the cultural heritage of Kerala and setting up of information centres at major tourist destinations with information kiosks and trained staff.
The department is now drafting an integrated tourism master plan to give shape to new plans and create an investor-friendly environment. “We will introduce a fast-track clearance system for tourism projects with investments of over Rs 10 crore. Incentives, subsidies and other assistance have been lined up for Responsible Tourism, marketing initiatives and homestay promotion," tourism secretary, Suman Billa, said.