Finance Minister Balagopal highlights plans for health and pilgrimage tourism, ettravelworld

Image credit – iStock-472909442

Finance Minister KN Balagopal on Saturday increased the state budget by 20 percent for the tourism department and highlighted plans to promote health and pilgrimage tourism in Kerala.

Inaugurated ‘Lokom Kothikkum Keralam’ Meeting, ‘Lokom Kothikkum Keralam’ Vision 2031 State level tourism workshop organized by Keryma Tourism Authority, Kuttikkanam.

Balagopal increased the budget of the tourism department by 20 percent and emphasized the importance of attracting local tourists through financial means within the state.

He added that 250 crores have been earmarked for the establishment of a health tourism center of Kerala as a health tourism center and to maintain the roads leading to Sabarimala every season, underlining its commitment to Hajj tourism.

At the same time, the minister mentioned the cruise tourism prospects of international congress centers in major destinations and other emerging opportunities.

Balagopal has reached the final stage of the process of securing start-up model financing for hotel projects with an investment of up to INR 50 crore.

He emphasized that it is important for Kerala’s tourism sector to adapt positively to the rapid changes brought about by artificial intelligence.

“Society likes it or not, AI is having a significant impact on our daily lives and work,” he said.

“At this stage, soft skills such as art and food fields are not affected by Ai-timber potential. Tourism is the best sector to acquire and develop these skills,” he said.

During the event, Minister of Tourism Mohamed Riyas presented the vision 2031 policy document.

Vision 2031 prepared by the state tourism department and launched at a phased workshop in Kuttikkanam has stepped in to provide infrastructural support to tourism throughout the year while pursuing sustainable and detailed friendship plans.

Riyas said several travel spots in the state are set to peak soon, while describing the planning of tourist attractions as “very important”.

“In order to identify such places in the next five years, we need to raise them to international standards with the cooperation of local communities,” he said.

“Such planning needs to be aided by modern technologies like AI. Easy tourism should be Kerala’s USP on the Tourism map. We plan to expand popular tourism in a way that boosts local employment and economy.”

Minister Kerala tourism, as a global brand, competes with worldwide destinations.

“Abroad or at home, all Malayalis should develop a situation where they are brand ambassadors of Kerala tourism,” he said.

He added that no other destination offers such a variety of tourism services.

Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine noted that the government has successfully implemented a creative action plan in the tourism sector, which has contributed to the growth of the state’s GDP.

Director of Tourism K Biju presented the achievements of the sector during the last nine years and Director of Tourism Sikha Surendran also spoke on the occasion.

Join the 2M+ community of industry professionals.

Subscribe to the newsletter to get the latest insights and analysis in your inbox.

EttravelWorld industry on your smartphone.