Tourism Sector in Kerala to Get a Boost with Second Phase Reopening

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The tourism sector in Kerala which was in doldrums following the outbreak of the covid 19 pandemic is expected to get a boost with the opening up of the beaches in November and the launch of 26 new tourism projects in October.
 
As part of the unlock process, the Government had decided to open the tourism centres in the State in two phases. Accordingly, in the first phase; the hill stations, adventure resorts and backwater tourism centres including houseboats were reopened on October 12, strictly adhering to the Covid protocol.  In the second phase, the beach tourism centres will reopen on November 1, the Kerala Day (Kerala Piravi Day).
 
October marked the inauguration of 26 notable tourism projects in the state by the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. In his address, the CM had said, “When the state, the country and the world survive Covid, Kerala will once again become a tourist paradise. The launch of the 26 new projects will mark the revival of the tourism sector in Kerala in the post-Covid season. The pandemic came at a time when the tourism sector was thriving, overcoming many crises. The tourism sector is estimated to have lost Rs 25,000 crores coupled with huge job losses. The government is implementing a number of new projects to boost and revive the tourism sector.”
 
The projects are spread across almost all the districts in Kerala, from the popular hill station tourist centre Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram way up to the northernmost districts. Some of the notable projects are Malamelpara tourism project in Kollam district, Kollam Beach, & Thani Beach projects, the Green Tourism Complex in Pala, the Aruvikuzhi Tourism Development Project in Idukki district, the Malanad-North Malabar River Cruise Tourism Project and the Chingeri Hill Rock Adventure Tourism Project in Wayanad.