Kerala, often referred as God’s own country has recorded a phenomenal growth in its tourism sector which contributes 20 per cent of the total revenue generated by the State annually, said a spokerperson of Kerala tourism during its tourism promotional event in the city on Tuesday.
He said tourism which has always been mainstay of Kerala’s economy is expected to grow by 10 to 15 per cent in coming years. Total revenue from tourism in Kerala last year (2012) has crossed Rs 21,000 crore mark as against Rs 19,037 crore in 2011. Foreign exchange earning from tourism in Kerala has also grown from Rs 4,221.99 crore in 2011 to Rs 4,548 crore in 2012, he added.
In terms of tourists’ influx to Kerala, compared to 93.88 lakh domestic tourists in 2011, the number of domestic tourists who visited Kerala last year 2012 has crossed one crore mark, he said adding that arrival of foreign tourists to the state during the same period has also increased as compared to 7.33 lakh foreign tourists who visited Kerala in 2011, the number of foreign tourists visiting Kerala last year has gone up to 7.94 lakh.
In order to further augment tourism in the State, Kerala tourism over the past some time has been organizing partnership meets in various cities across the country to attract further domestic tourists to Kerala.
After its successful partnership meets in metro cities of the country including Kolkata, Bangalore, Chenna, Mumbai and Delhi, Kerala government has also started its partnership meets in tier 2 cities of the country.
In this regard, a team of Kerala tourism department arrived in the city on Tuesday along with its cultural troupe and show-cased its various forms of dances before the city audience in a cultural show organised at Hotel Fortune landmark on Tuesday evening.