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Hotel Talk
Global hospitality majors keen on pampering Kerala
Ketan Thakkar - Mumbai
 Following
the quick footstep of international travellers, global hospitality majors too
are keen to cash in on Kerala. Some of the big names from the West Asia and
South East Asia have shown serious interest in setting up a hotel in Kerala.
Sanjay Kaul, director, Kerala Tourism Board informed, "Major players from
the West Asia and South East Asia have shown interest in investing in Kerala.
We are offering them a conducive environment, rest is up to them."
Kaul said talks are on and it would be premature to give any further details.
Pro-active policies like single window clearance coupled with infrastructural
development would enable the global bigwigs to enter the region faster than
expected. As part of the policy government has decided to invest 1,000 crore
in overall tourism for 2007.
"With 'single window investment cell' on the anvil and expected to be functional
in a month’s time, more players will be keen on entering this region,"
said an industry insider.
There is a shortage of living accommodation for tourists in Kerala. It falls
short of at least 18,000 rooms during the peak season, however, with some hotels
coming up in the next few years, some of the demand could be met, said Kaul.
In the next two years, Renaissance Convention Centre and Marriott Hotel are
expected to add at least 1,000 rooms in the region. The region has seen phenomenal
growth in 2006, with record 4.28 lakh international tourists, a growth of 23.68
per cent as against 2005 and over 62 lakh domestic tourists, a growth of 5.47
per cent.
| The Kerala tourism department is turning its attention
away from traditional areas like Kovalam, Munnar and Alleppy to lesser known
places in the state - the Malabar region.
"The northern part of Kerala has much better beaches,
hill stations and back-water locales," said Sanjay Kaul, director,
Kerala Tourism. He was speaking after kicking off a roadshow held in Mumbai
to promote tourism in Kerala.
The focus on Malabar will not affect the traffic to the
already established locations, he added. Kerala Tourism is in no mood
to woo the film industry, he said to a query if the state would follow
the path of countries like Singapore, in this regard. Though films like
Bombay featured Northern Kerala's Bakel Fort, the government plans to
promote Malabar in its own right.
The government is also laying emphasis on building tourism
infrastructure in Malabar by increasing the expenditure. The northern
region comprises the districts of Kasargode, Wayanad, and Kannur, which
were not hot spots on the state's tourism map till recently.
Kerala expects a 16 per cent year-on-year rise in revenues
from tourism. Kerala Tourism is also kicking off roadshows in places like
Singapore and Australia. As against the traditional season that spans
between late September to January, Kerala tourism will woo tourists all
through the year with its "Any time's a good time to visit Kerala"
campaign.
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