Tourism Emerging as Kerala’s Key Engine of Growth: P A Mohamed Riyas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Public Works and Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas today said that tourism will become an important sector contributing a significant share of Kerala’s domestic growth.

He was inaugurating the Academic Annex Block of the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies, the Department of Tourism’s human resource development institute.

The minister said Kerala still has great potential in tourism, and innovative projects are being implemented to tap its full potential.

Currently, tourism accounts for nine per cent of the world economy. In Kerala, which is fast becoming a tourism state, the hospitality industry accounts for 10 per cent of its GDP. The World Tourism Organization expects exponential growth in the tourism sector in the years ahead. Estimates suggest that the number of tourists will reach 11.1 trillion in 2024.

“With the changing times, great changes are also occurring in the tourism sector. The sector is emerging as the world’s best employer,” Riyas said. “MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), destination weddings, experiential responsible tourism and food-adventure tourism are major contributors,” he added.

The minister stated that KITTS will be developed as a centre of excellence for tourism human resources development. The new block will benefit this endeavour. Several projects are in the pipeline to develop KITTS as a centre of excellence.

“The newly launched academic block is the result of efforts to mould KITTS students to shine in any field from digital marketing to tourism start-ups,” he said. “Not only job opportunities but business potential in this sector should also be utilised to the maximum extent.”

KTIL Chairman SK Sajeesh presided over the function while KITTS Principal Dr B Rajendran delivered the welcome address.

Department of Tourism Additional Director (General) Vishnu Raj P, KITTS Director Dr Dileep MR; Habitat Technologies Chairman Architect G Sankar and Kumar Group Total Designers Vice-Chairman Sasikumar also spoke. KITTS Asst. Professor Dr Saroop Roy BR and College Union Chairman Anan J were present.

The new academic block was built as part of upgrading the autonomous institution into a tourism academic research and training centre of global standards.

The academic block, which has a built-up area of around 9,000 square feet, was completed in the Thycaud Residency Compound at a cost of Rs 3.22 crore. It has six classrooms, an online test centre, and faculty rooms for conducting MBA and Digital University-related courses and various diploma courses.