Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 23 – In view of the increasing number of visitors from Europe, south Indian state of Kerala’s Tourism Department is now looking across the Atlantic to significantly boost foreign arrivals in the state, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The department is holding three road shows at major cities in the United States this month to enter the American market in a big way, an official release here said.
The first two road shows were held at New York and Chicago in the last couple of days, which would be followed by the last road show in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The United States is the fourth major market for Kerala Tourism after the United Kingdom, France and Germany, Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar, who is leading a delegation of government and industry representatives from the state to the US, said.
“An increase in arrivals of visitors from the biggest economy in the world will be a significant factor for the growth of tourism in the state,” he said.
Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur attended the road show in New York, in which 58 members from the US travel and tourism trade sector took part.
Tourism Secretary Suman Billa made a presentation on the top tourist attractions in “God’s Own Country” at the event.
It is for the first time Kerala Tourism is organising road shows in the United States. Tourist arrivals in Kerala from the US went up last year to 57,807 from 55,741 in 2011.
“Americans are one of the top global travellers and it is only logical that Kerala Tourism is making inroads into the vast market offered by the United States,” said Billa.
The Air India is sponsoring free economy class round trip tickets to the winners of lucky draws being held in each venue of the road shows. The lucky draw winners would get a free 10-day holiday in Kerala, the release said.
-Bernama
