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Tourism is not a mere market commodity: Achuthanandan

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister inaugurates Kerala Travel Mart

TRADITIONAL BEGINNING: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni and Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan at the inauguration of Kerala Travel Mart in Kochi on Wednesday. Photo: Vipinchandran

KOCHI: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said the unqualified beauty and the peace and harmony existing in Kerala are the factors that attract more tourists to the State.

Inaugurating the Kerala Travel Mart here on Wednesday, he said the State Government did not see tourism merely as a market commodity. "I do not want to call it even as an industry rooted in the philosophy of profit at any cost. We do not want to compromise on certain basic issues, as we offer our hospitality to our guests from other parts of the world," he said. The State wanted tourism to be developed further without harming the social and cultural values. Tourism would become soulless and whither away very fast without certain values, he said.

Tourism should develop providing jobs not only in towns but also in rural areas of the State. The benefits of tourism should reach villages, he said.

Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that Kerala was experiencing the highest growth in tourism sector. The sector was expecting a growth of 26 per cent in the next 10 years. The tourism wing was envisaging an investment of Rs.1,000 crore this year and the target set for tourism revenue was Rs.10,000 crore. New products like monsoon tourism, adventure tourism and medical tourism were being encouraged.

Principal Secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan said the State would pursue responsible tourism. Conservation and preservation would be part of the tourism activity.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, Jose Dominic, president of Kerala Travel Mart Society, said about 1,200 delegates, including those from abroad, were participating in the mart. B. Suman, Director, Kerala Tourism, proposed a vote of thanks. Cheriyan Philip, KTDC Chairman, K.V. Thomas, MLA, and several other dignitaries associated with travel industry were present.

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