Budget Imparts a Big Thrust to Tourism Revival: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Revised Budget for 2021-22 presented by Finance Minister K N Balagopal will give a big thrust to the revival of the pandemic-battered tourism sector in Kerala, State Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said.

“The proposals in the budget will expedite the Government’s plans to tap the post-pandemic tourism potential by converting the crisis into an opportunity, with greater emphasis on Responsible Tourism initiatives,” the Minister said.

Novel projects like Malabar Literary Circuit and Bio-diversity Circuit proposed in the budget will strengthen Kerala’s accent on cultural, heritage and environmental tourism and enhance footfalls to more new areas, Shri Riyas added. For these two projects, an amount of Rs. 50 Crore has been earmarked in the budget.

The additional allocation of Rs 50 crore proposed for mounting massive marketing campaigns will help Kerala Tourism attract visitors from niche markets and new segments. Similarly, new projects and circuits will ensure that all regions of the state would benefit from tourism development, Riyas said.

The budget has also taken due care of the interests of the stakeholders of the key sector by proposing that sufficient working capital and other credit support of over Rs 400 crore would be made available for the growth of the industry through Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC), he said.

It is also significant that a provision of Rs 30 crore as Government share has been made to work out a Rejuvenation Package for tourism enterprises, which have been pushed to the verge of closure, he said.