Tourism to be Kerala’s important global activity, says Antony

Kochi: Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony has said his state government has identified tourism as the most important global activity, as the thrust area for development in the Tenth Five Year Plan.

Inaugurating the three-day Kerala Travel Mart (KTM)-2002, being participated by a record number of 750 buyers from over 50 countries here, he said tourism continues to be one of the major sources of foreign exchange earnings, employment and revenue. “Tourism will be Kerala’s engine for economic growth, for which it has earmarked a five-fold increase in allocations during the Tenth Plan.”

Antony said the record participation of delegates, including 114 service providers from within Kerala, at the KTM-2002, the second mart of its kind organised jointly by the state tourism department and the Kerala Travel Mart society in a span of two years, is a clear example of joint efforts by the private and government sectors.

Presiding over the function, Kerala Tourism Minister K V Thomas said the strength of Kerala tourism is its excellent natural resources in the form of backwaters, hill stations and beaches. “For the sustainable development of these destinations, the state tourism will focus on the conservation of ecology to reduce its negative impact on the environment.”

Speaking as the chief guest, State Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said industry and tourism have many things in common. “I hope that a good number of delegates attending the KTM will also be potential investors in the global investors meet, proposed to be conducted by the state government in January 2003.”