Kerala tourism to glow round the year

Kerala Tourism has embarked upon an innovative initiative to make the state a year-round tourist destination.

The initiative, which aims at attracting more domestic holidaymakers into the state, will offer travel packages for a period of six months starting April, at affordable rates.

The initiative, christened Dream Season, aims at converting the traditional off-season in the state to a season of opportunity for the holidaymaker, according to V Venu, secretary, Kerala Tourism.

The Dream Season initiative comes from Kerala Tourism's public-private partnership programme, Synergy, and attempts to ward off the belief that the state is a seasonal destination, he added.

"The campaign stems from the concern that despite impressive growth rates, Kerala is still a seasonal destination, despite the fact that it is blessed with unparalleled wealth of attractions and a year-round moderate climate. The Dream Season initiative will go a long way in sustaining the growth rates and transforming Kerala into a land for all seasons," Venu pointed out.

The Dream Season campaign will run through the summer, monsoon and festival seasons of the state, from April to September.

The department also plans to go on an aggressive promotional campaign in a bid to see the Dream Season initiative take wings.

Further, as part of efforts to provide a leg up to the initiative, Kerala Tourism will also unveil a micro-site, www.keralatourism.org/dreamseason, which will feature details of the packages being offered by hoteliers and tour operators etc.

Besides, a new SMS-based response system will be introduced and information can also be gathered from the Kerala Tourism toll-free infoline, 1-800-425-4747, once the initiative is set in motion, he added.

The department also plans to provide access to space in the microsite to tour operators and hotels.