Kochi: Amid subdued angst of the tourism industry at the restrictive liquor policy in the state, the bi-annual Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) opened in Kerala’s commercial capital, Kochi on Wednesday with tourism players hopeful of continued growth in the near term.
Roughly 300 sellers of assorted tourism products in the state ranging from backwater resorts and houseboats to heritage hotels and homestays are meeting an equal number of buyers from around the globe at the event. The international buyers are drawn from 57 countries.
State tourism secretary, V. Venu told Gulf News that it was unique for any travel mart in the world to have an equal number of buyers as there were sellers. “In fact, if the domestic buyers are also considered, there are four buyers for each seller at the KTM”, he said.
The KTM this year is taking place in the backdrop of a restrictive liquor policy in the state, introduced by the previous United Democratic Front government, which has banned the sale of liquor in all hotels except five-star properties. Industry operators say this has adversely affected tourism in Kerala.
The Left Democratic Front government that came to power in May is yet to lift the restriction though it has stated that it would adopt a “pragmatic” approach regarding its liquor policy.
KTM president, Abraham George said that despite the event’s runaway success over the years, it has continued to keep the small and medium tourism operators at the heart of the event.
Jose Dominic, managing director of the CGH Earth group of hotels said the way forward for Kerala was to focus on properties that operated with concern for the environment. “It has to be an interplay of the environment, society and the tourist, securing the interest of each of them”, he said.
E.M. Najeeb, president of the Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry, said the projection was that the state tourism sector would grow at 10-15 per cent in the near term, and annual revenues will touch Rs300 billion (Dh16 billion).
One of the key concerns of the sector is the increasing damage being inflicted on the environment.
Jojy Mathew, director of Rainbow Cruises said waste management and regular awareness and training workshops are required to maintain the environment in pristine condition.
Houseboats in the Alapuzha backwaters have been blamed for the degradation of the water body, but houseboat operators say that only a small percentage of houseboat operators are violating conservation laws and that they should be given proper training and awareness.
