Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Kerala Tourism makes a splash Down Under

Sales pitch: V. Venu, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, along with stakeholders in the industry, at a road show held in Sydney on November 1.

Thiruvananthapuram: A roadshow organised by Kerala Tourism in Sydney to promote the destination and its unique tourism products was an enriching voyage for the stakeholders in the industry.

An overwhelming response from the 125-odd trade and media delegates from Australia marked the roadshow held on board a cruise boat, Sydney Glass Island, on November 1.

A presentation unveiling an impressive bouquet of attractions, innovative strategies and path-breaking initiatives of the State was one of the highlights of the road show, organised jointly by Kerala Tourism and India Tourism.

The roadshow is part of Kerala Tourism’s long-term plan to focus more on emerging markets and make inroads into new high-potential markets.

Australia is the seventh largest market for Kerala Tourism. In 2006, Kerala registered 12,460 tourist arrivals from Australia, a growth of 25.07 per cent over that of the previous year.

V. Venu, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, led the team, which included eight trade partners from the State. K.N. Mohanakumaran, Head of Chancery, Indian Consulate, Sydney, and Shankar Dhar, Regional Director, Australasia, India Tourism, attended the show. They commended the role played by Kerala in enhancing the India experience.

For the trade, the show offered a great opportunity to interact and connect with their Australian counterparts.

Leading Australian tour operators; airlines, including Qantas and Thai Airways; and key travel writers from major publications such as Mature Traveller, Travel Mole and Vacation & Travel evinced a keen interest in the destination.

Improved air connectivity between Sydney and airports in Kerala, with Singapore as a major hub, is expected to bring more tourists from Australia to the State in the coming days.

Similar shows have been held in Zurich, Frankfurt and Singapore.

They will be organised in Amsterdam, Milan and Paris during the current financial year, Dr. Venu said.

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