Kerala is among the 50 must see destinations
suggested by the National Geographic Magazine.
Tourism is a
global phenomenon. It is an expression of man's natural instinct to move from
one place to another and to appreciate the handiwork of the Great Creative
Original Artist !
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India with her naturally beautiful lakes,
backwaters, beaches, hills and forests is one of the best tourist attractions
in the world. If a tourist wants trekking and mountaineering, which mountains
in the world can compete with the Himalayas ? If he wants exposure to the sea
and the sun, where else would he find thousands of miles of virgin beaches
against the background of swaying coconut palms ? If he wants to visit ancient
ruins or sites, which country can match the monuments of the Buddhist, Hindu,
Jain, Muslim, Sikh and Christian faiths ? If he wants to move far from the
Madding Crowd, away from modern Civilization, where else can he find such
natural beauties like the Andamans with their thick rain forest and the
Lakshadweep islands with their sparkling clear waters ? If he wants to study
and research Ayurveda and Yoga, where else can be find Ayurvedic and Yogic
retreats run by bona fide Yogis and Ayurvedic Doctors ?
Kerala and Kashmir are two outstanding states known
for their intrinsic natural beauty. While Kashmir resembles the beauty of a
cine actress, Kerala on the other hand resembles an aristocratic damsel.
Strategically located at the South Western tip of India, Kerala has unique
geographic features which make her one of the most sought after tourist
destination spots in Asia. This puny state is a breathtakingly ravishing
greenland. Excellent investment opportunities in
Tourism Industry is bestowed by this state with her natural endowments like
tranquil beaches, exhilarating hill stations, soothing backwaters, spectacular
art forms , historic monuments, rejuvenating health packages, year round
festivals & exotic wildlife. The tourist is enriched by a unique
experience, having tasted a strikingly beautiful land as the Lord made
it, and this enchants him throughout his life.
Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, will be donning
the robe of the industrial hub of South India, in terms of development &
infrastructure, within a couple of years. . IT, BT, Service Sector
Companies & owners of hotels & resorts will make a beeline for space
in this city and she will become the home of thousands of well trained
professionals.
An investment of almost 30000 crores is in the
offing with 20000 crores coming from the Central Government and this
investment will favour IT, BT, Eductiona and Tourism sectors. Here are some
projects in the pipeline
GAIL Petro Project 7000
crores, ICTT, Vallarpadam 2118
Petronet
LNG
2200, KRL Single Buoy Mooring
KRL- BPCL City Gasification, Subsea Pipeline,
Kochi Kayamkulam NTPC Phase, Boating Marina, Internaltional Bunkering
Terminal
Real Estate & Hangar Expansion of CIAL, Smart
City, Fashion City
Kumbalangi - Declared by the State Govt as the
Model Tourism Village
Tourists do not complain about the
lack of infrastructure. On the other hand the absence of such facilities such
as phone, TV, AC etc is the USP of Kerala. Nature in her pristine purity is
preserved and it is upto the tourist traveller to enjoy it. Does not
Naturopathy advocate living in harmony with Nature ? Modern Civilization has
moved away from Nature, with its emphasis on Fast food and the Digital
Era. " Back to the Wisdom of Nature" seems to be the motto of Kerala. Does not
Kerala echo Wordsworth ? ( " Nature never did betray the heart that loved her
" ! )
The modern term luxury means '
opulence of the built up space " but should be redefined as the ' enriching
quality of the experience '. If one can commune with Nature at her original
best, cant that experience be called " luxury"? Wordsworth, a Nature
lover, remarked
With bliss ineffable, I
felt
The sentiment of Being spread
around
Over all that liveth and all that
moveth still !
Such Cosmic Consciousness is
possible only in a Nature blessed land !
Tourists enjoying in a House
Boat
Innovations in Tourism like Farm
Tourism & Monsoon Tourism have paid rich dividends. The
success in Farm Tourism was illustrated by Philip Kutty’s example – the
entire rural landscape is transformed by its adaptations. The erstwhile
poachers of the Periyar Tiger Reserve have changed into guides . Tourism has
reinvigorated and put new life into a rather dolorific rural & agri
economy. Farm stays, home stays & tourist visits are
increasing, thus transforming the state's core sector
Kerala, despite her economic
backwardness, is the most egalitarian & literate state. To quote
Burton Stein, ‘Not only did Kerala launch an exemplary land reform
programme, but it also devoted relatively large expenditures to basic
education and health care, making the state the most egalitarian, best
educated and healthiest in the Indian Union, though it remained among the
poorest.’ National Geographic defined Kerala as a ‘Mount Everest of
social development’ and a must see in a life time destination ! Lack of
industrial infrastructure may have drawn criticism from many quarters. But it
has saved Kerala from pollution and the modern fast food culture and made her
achieve much in the social sector and get a relatively pristine environment,
which has made a her a powerful must see in the tourist map of Incredible
India !
The agri sector is reinvigorated by
the surging demand for organic food, especially with the tourism inducted
markets. Kerala's agri & knowledge base, based more or less in Ayurveda
& Naturopathy, enable her to emerge as one of the largest producers of
organic foods, including spices, rice and tropical
fruits.
Statistical Research carried out by
Peter Aderhold revealed that there are two types of travelles. The '
Sun-Sand-Surf"(SSS) and the other the "
Alert Independent Traveller "(AIT). While SSS is the mass market and AIT the
newly emerging niche, AIT is the rising star, according to the latest
research.
The SSS category traveller will prefer Goa with her beaches
while the AIT will favour "God's Own Country", Kerala !
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- Kochi International Airport ( http://www.cochin-airport.com/ )
is located in Nedumbassery - approx 29 Km from the city. There are flights
to and from Colombo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Sharjah, Jeddah, Muscate,
Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Take a prepaid taxi to your
destination
Some E Tourism Resources
http://www.incredibleindia.org
http://www.exploreruralindia.com/
( with United Nations Development Programme Resources )
