Thiruvananthapuram will be hosting the first Tourism Investors Meet (TIM), on November 16, which aims to provide a range of investment opportunities in travel destinations, products, and initiatives that promote Kerala as an all-season centre for experiencing tourism to stakeholders and potential investors. P.A. Mohammed Riyas, the Minister of Tourism, on Monday, informed the media in this place that investors, corporate executives, and other players from the travel and tourism sector from both domestic and international locations have confirmed their participation in TIM.
Mr. Riyas stated that the state government had a wealth of landed and physical assets at its disposal at locations of immense tourism possibilities throughout Kerala, which could be developed sustainably to turn the entire state into a premier all-weather experiential tourism hub. He emphasised the importance of Kerala updating, upgrading, and reorienting the tourism sector to live up to the current trends, demands, and choices.
The Minister announced that TIM will launch investment opportunities in a number of different segments, including rural stays, eco-tourism, adventure activities in scenic hill and forest settings, and responsible tourism that actively involves local communities in the preservation of nature and cultural heritage through initiatives like Caravan Tourism and Destination Challenge. In addition to business-to-business (B2B) meetings, the event will feature roundtable talks, project pitch sessions, lectures, and workshops on tourist trends. According to the Minister, the state had a 19.34% increase in domestic tourism in the first nine months of 2023, with 159.69 lakh visitors, compared to 133.81 lakh in the same period the previous year.
According to the Minister, the state had a 19.34% increase in domestic tourism during the first nine months of 2023, with 159.69 lakh visitors, compared to 133.81 lakh over the same time the previous year. According to this, there were 25.88 lakh more tourists in the first nine months of 2023 than there were in 2022, representing a 21.12% rise above pre-pandemic numbers.
Attracting 33,18,391 domestic footfalls, Ernakulam had the most number of visitors, ahead of Idukki (26,61,934), Thiruvananthapuram (25,61,787), Thrissur (18,22,020), and Wayanad (12,87,166). Kerala also saw an increase in international visitor visits, with figures estimated at 4,47,327 in the first nine months of 2023 compared to 2,06,852 in the same period the previous year, representing a jump of 116.25%.
