Kerala Expects Rs.15 Bn Tourism Investment This Year

Kerala's tourism industry is expecting an investment of Rs. 15 billion in the current fiscal, despite the ongoing demolition drive against illegal encroachments in the hill station of Munnar, State Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Tuesday.

'In the past one year, the tourism sector attracted nearly Rs.10 billion worth of investments and we expect Rs.15 billion this fiscal. Likewise, we expect a 20 percent increase in foreign tourists and domestic tourism is likely to grow by 10 percent,' Balakrishnan to reporters here.
The minister reiterated that the ongoing demolition drive in Munnar would soon be extended to other parts of Kerala too.

'We are very clear that all government land that has been encroached upon across the state would be taken back. We have asked the tourism department to prepare a list of encroachments made at all tourist destinations in the state,' Balakrishnan.

He said the government would soon decide a master plan for Munnar - one that would be environmentally safe.

'We will also revamp the existing Tourism Resorts Kerala Ltd and make it a company that would look into the development of tourism infrastructure and investments in this sector,' Balakrishnan added.