With its backwaters, beaches and hill stations receiving worldwide attention, there has been a steady increase in arrival of foreign tourists to Kerala in the last three years.
International tourist inflow to Kerala is up by about one-fifth. From 3,46,494 in 2005 and 4,28,534 in 2006, the number of foreign tourists who travelled to the state has grown to 5,15,808 vistiors in 2007, according to state tourism minister Kodiyeri Balakrishanan.
Correspondingly, the revenue from tourism is expected to cross Rs 10,000 crore. In 2006, this was about Rs 9,126 crore. The domestic tourist arrivals are up by only 5.9% in the last year.
Kerala, hosting an international conclave on `Responsible Tourism’ this week, is expected to come out with a white paper on this subject soon. "The emphasis this year will be on conserving and preserving the environment, the minister said.
Under the Tenth Plan, Kerala Tourism had received Rs 138.09 crore from Centre for 61 projects. In the Eleventh Plan, however, the state’s tourism efforts are yet to get any assistance beyond Rs 24.47 crore.
Encouraged by the steady increase in the arrival of foreign tourists, Kerala planned to market more beaches, one of the main attractions along with the backwaters of the state.
Compared to the steady increase in foreign tourists, the rise in domestic tourists was about six per cent.
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