1600 delegates to attend Kerala Travel Mart

Over 1,600 delegates from India and abroad will be attending the fifth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), the biennial buyer–seller meet, which begins here from September 20 to 23.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, EM Najeeb, president of KTM, said 570 international buyers from around 35 countries and 1,050 domestic delegates had registered for the mega tourism mart.

The state will be showcased through 312 stalls of various segments of tourism trade like hotels, resorts, tour operators, ayurveda hospitals and house boats.

The fourth edition in 2006 saw 300 foreign and 500 Indian delegates, he said. There will be a separate session for tour operators from India, Brazil and South Africa in order to enhance mutual co-operation in the tourism sector.

 

Najeeb said last year 500,000 foreign tourists and 6.2 million domestic tourists visited the state. It is estimated that the state earned revenues to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore from tourism in 2007, which is the mainstay of its economy.

Stating that there was a urgent need to improve tourism infrastructure to keep pace with the tourist flow, he said Kerala needs around 25,000 rooms in single star to 5-star categories.

At present, the actual availability is hardly above 10,000. The commissioning of the fourth airport at Kannur will add more pressure in the coming years, he cautioned.

In recent years, around Rs 1,000 crore, in private and public sectors, was invested to improve the infrastructure facilities.

This year’s edition would focus on themes that have gained currency in recent years. While the Responsible Tourism thrust will be provided with association from Kudumbasree, Rural Tourism will be supported by UNDP and India Tourism.