Tourist arrivals in Kerala cross 1-cr mark in 2011

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 16:  Over one crore tourists are estimated to have visited Kerala during 2011, according to the Tourism Minister, Mr A. P. Anil Kumar.  Revenue earnings recorded by the sector during the period stood at Rs 19,037 crore, the Minister said in an update of the Government’s performance in its first year in office. 

Of the inbound tourists, 7.3 lakh were foreign and the rest (93.7 lakh) domestic, the Minister told newspersons here. This represented a year-on-year rise of 73,720 in the number of foreign tourists and as much as 7.86 lakh in domestic tourists. The foreign exchange earnings have gone up from Rs 3,797.37 crore in 2010 to Rs 4,221.99 crore in 2011, the Minister said. 

The Department of Tourism achieved 94.5 per cent utilisation of the annual plan funds during the period under reference. This was the best performance in at least the last 20 years, the Minister claimed. 

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3424776.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in

Bekal to emerge as focus of Malabar tourism

A best-kept secret of Kerala for long, the heritage-rich coastal town of Bekal in Kasaragod has embarked on a course to woo tourists with the state government launching plans to tap the huge tourism potential of the region. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who last week inaugurated the "know Bekal" campaign in Kasaragod District, has pledged to put the six districts of Malabar on the forefront of Kerala’s tourism growth. 

The plans include making Bekal the second biggest backwater tourism hotspot after Alappuzha, building an airstrip and revamping the rail station to improve connectivity and creating facilities for adventure activities including water sports and aero sports. Besides, it was planned to speed up infrastructure projects like the Kannur international airport and expansion of the Kozhikode airport.

According to Tourism department officials, Bekal has the advantage of being able to support three of the most promising sectors for the Kerala economy – tourism, coastal transport and national waterways. While doing this, great care would be taken to ensure that the pristine environment around that area would not be harmed and bring much of the benefits of tourism to the local community based on the concept of Responsible Tourism, state Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar said.

"As a destination Bekal is largely unexplored and pristine. We are in a position to employ best tourism practices and, socially and ecologically sustainable means while charting its future growth," he said. Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Ltd (BRDC), tasked with the implementation of the project, has acquired and developed more than 230 acres of land for setting up resorts.

Two resorts have already been commissioned and beach camping facility developed by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation is nearing completion at Bekal Beach Park. A cultural centre, a bio-organic farm and a tourism incubation centre in the area are also on the anvil. There are plans to connect Bekal to Kerala's other destinations through sea plane service. Kerala’s Tourism Department is targeting an increase in tourist inflows to Bekal from 3.2 lakhs at present to six lakhs by 2015. 

http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/bekal-to-emerge-as-focusmalabar-tourism/8469/