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 !
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
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 !
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 !
