New initiatives to boost tourism in Kerala

The Kerala government Wednesday introduced two new initiatives to attract more tourists and enhance the travel experience in the state, an official said.

The "Seaplane Project" is aimed at improving last mile connectivity by air to destinations across the state while "Project Muziris" will reinstate the historical and cultural significance of the port of Muziris.

"These initiatives will further add to the increasing graph of Kerala tourism and will give social, economic and environmental empowerment to the state," Kerala tourism director S. Harikishore told IANS on the sidelines of a press conference here.

"For the Seaplane project, the plan is to provide service initially in the priority circuit consisting of the three airports of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode and the prime destinations via Astamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Bolgatty and Bekal in the state," he added.

Project Muziris's objective is to promote awareness and understanding of the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of Muziris.

Apart from these, Kerala tourism will be reviving the two millennia-old spice route that links the southwestern coast of India up to Europe. There is also the monsoon campaign, great backwater campaign and Ayurveda campaign to attract national and international tourists.