"In the last few years, Kerala has emerged as the best responsible tourism destination. When we talk about responsible tourism, we actually mean it. We ensure that our travellers are responsible and we also make sure that whatever money is spent, part of it goes to our local communities for their betterment," Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh told PTI on Thursday.
Tourism plays a crucial role in bolstering the Kerala economy, with the state recording 159.69 lakh domestic visitors between January and September 2023. In a recent announcement, Nooh introduced 'Sky Escapes,' a heli-tourism initiative aimed at promoting tourism in hilly regions through helicopter services.
According to him, efforts are being made to promote Kerala as a budding destination for destination weddings as there are picturesque places as well as good air connectivity with international airports.
At a session in the national capital to highlight tourism potential in Kerala, Nooh said the state government is trying to empower and focus on the literary circuit as well as the biodiversity circuit. In this regard, various efforts are being taken, including creating museums and other attractions to increase footfall of domestic travellers, he added.
Kerala also offers adventure tourism experiences, with upcoming events such as the International Paragliding Festival, International Surfing Festival, and Mountain-Terrain-Biking scheduled for March and April.