Kerala is on a mission to revitalize its tourism sector with a strategic approach that combines coastal zone relaxation, lucrative investment incentives, and a renewed focus on experiential tourism. The state’s finance minister, KN Balagopal, announced this ambitious plan at the 12th Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) in Kochi, highlighting a collaborative effort across government departments to spearhead this initiative.
The recent approval from the central government for Kerala’s Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) management plan has paved the way for a significant expansion of tourism infrastructure. The state is poised to add a remarkable 10,000 new hotel rooms, significantly bolstering its accommodation capacity. This CRZ relaxation will benefit 64 local self-government areas, opening up new regions for tourism development and other ventures.
Balagopal emphasized the government’s commitment to attracting investment by offering attractive incentives, including interest subsidies, to accelerate development projects and provide faster returns for investors. The revised CRZ management plan re-classifies 66 of Kerala’s 245 panchayats as urban areas, reducing the coastal restriction zone from 200 meters to 50 meters, paving the way for a substantial surge in tourism growth.
Recognizing the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries, Balagopal highlighted the importance of creative and experiential sectors like tourism, arts, and culture in driving global economies.
Kerala’s tourism minister, PA Mohamed Riyas, underscored the state’s strong connectivity through its four airports, road, rail, and water transport networks, positioning it as an ideal destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions), weddings, medical tourism, wellness retreats, and cruise tourism.
