Experts at KTM call for developing tourism in Kerala plantations

KTM is said to be the largest single-state tourism show in India and South East Asia

Kerala’s famed plantations and beaches were the highlights of discussions on Day 2 of Kerala Travel Mart, that is currently ongoing in Kochi.

Local experts at KTM, which is said to be the largest single-state tourism show in India and South East Asia, said that tourism to Kerala can reach a new level if the potential of the state’s vast plantation region, spread over 7,12,000 hectares, is fully utilised.

Participating in a discussion on the subject, the experts said that if the state government supported the diversification of the plantation sector, it would become the hallmark of Kerala tourism.

Jose Dominic

According to the experts, currently, only 5 pc of the state’s plantation area has been sanctioned for diversification, as these are the most beautiful tourist spots with lush greenery. 

In his address, Jose Dominic, the first president of Kerala Travel Mart Society and Chairman of CGH Earth, a chain of luxury boutique hotels, said that the plantations were the hospitality industry’s gold mine. “If the tourism promoters are allowed to invest in the plantation sector, it can do wonders,” Dominic said.

He also pointed out that the existing buildings in the plantations can also be converted into rooms and allied infrastructure for tourism activities.

Jose Pradeep

KTM Society President Jose Pradeep said that the plantation region was the most suitable for fully tapping the tourism potential of Kerala’s verdant hills.

“Although on a small scale, many plantation owners organise tourism activities on the homestay model. But it is possible to bring a unified system through the Plantation Directorate started by the state government,” Predeep said.

He pointed out that the plantations were rich with heritage bungalows and pristine beauty spots. If this was utilised, it would significantly benefit the state’s hospitality industry.

Suja Arun, a tourism entrepreneur focused on the area, said opening up at least 10 pc of the tourism potential of the plantation sector would make a tremendous difference.

“Today, many tourism enterprises in the plantation region operate under homestay licences. If there is a generous approach on the government side, there will be no other tourism product that can provide such a variety of products and services,” she said.

Vaisali Boosana SP, Senior Manager at the Briar Tea Bungalow, said Kerala’s approach to the plantation sector was much better than some other states. According to her, investing in this sector in Kerala is a profitable venture, and all of Briar’s bungalows in Kerala are  favourite destinations for holidaymakers.

Overseas buyers spot diverse opportunities in Kerala

Kerala offers a wide variety of opportunities for tourist and overseas buyers

Meanwhile, according to the foreign buyers present at KTM 2024, Kerala offers a wide variety of opportunities for tourists. For many of them, the state is an ideal destination for honeymooners and during a discussion at the event, they said that they intended to promote this facet of the state in their respective countries.

According to them, apart from Ayurveda, honeymoon packages are the much sought-after product from the state’s tourism sector and are accordingly discussing with their potential partners in Kerala to find attractive honeymoon packages for their clients.

Veronica Rioseco

One such buyer is Veronica Rioseco, Tour Agent of Nomades Chile, a tour operator in Chile. Rioseco said that she was at KTM for the first time to market the state’s honeymoon destinations.

“We are focussing on Kerala’s honeymoon packages and family holiday packages. Normally, South American people go to Golden Triangle of Jaipur, Agra and Delhi, but they rarely come to South India. But now the scenario is changing,” Rioseco said.

She added that the pristine beaches, picturesque landscape, different people, warm weather and boating through the backwaters of Kerala are ideal for making it a hub of honeymoon destination.

Another foreign buyer, Diego Celma, of Increble Mundo, a tour operator from Spain, said most of his clients were couples and they preferred Kerala for honeymoon trips and that the demand for such tours had forced him to introduce a special tour package connecting India and the Maldives.

“After arriving in India, they can spend time in Kerala for honeymoon before proceeding to the Maldives. My package for Kerala consists of a mix of adventure activities like scuba diving also,” Celma said. He added that honeymoon packages in Kerala are popular in Spain.  

Peter Foster

For Peter Foster, from Those Travel Guys, a British tour operator, along with the wellness package, wellness was also a major selling point for Kerala.

“One of the problems of doctors from the United Kingdom is that they don’t recognise holistic therapy and traditional medicine.  Most of our clients are interested in spiritual healing and organic food, so the popularity of Ayurveda is growing,” he noted.

However, he added, that the younger doctors in Britain were more open to Ayurveda, especially after Covid-19 pandemic, with the help of virtual meetings with physicians in India.

Not just in the UK, wellness and Ayurveda packages are also very popular in Russia, says Olga Gabrus, a Russian buyer, who said that she was promoting wellness packages in Kerala in a big way in Russia.