Tourism development plan for Kerala formed

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) A comprehensive Tourism Development Plan for Kerala has been chalked out with focus on developing sustainable tourism in a 20-year time-frame to position the state as an international tourist destination, the government today said.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said the other components of the plan included identyifying the existing and new tourism projects having potential for development, evaluating the existing and potential tourist destinations and reviewing the status of ongoing development and investment plans.

Ms Soni said another vital component of the plan was to prepare an action plan for the implementation of identified potential schemes and development of their infrastructure.

The minister said as part of the plan, the existing tourism scenario in the state would be assessed while the existing schemes would be given short-term and long-term targets.

About the plans to market the tourism potential of Kerala internationally, she said adequate publicity was being given in both overseas and domestic markets through campaigns in print, electronic and IT media, participation in travel marts and festivals and production and distribution of brochures, collateral and tourism literature.

She said the Tourism Ministry provides funds on the basis of project proposals prioritised for grant of Central financial assistance every year. These proposals pertain to tourist circuits, production infrastructure and destination development and large revenue-generating projects.

During 2005-06, the Centre sanctioned Rs 48.59 crore for integrated development of tourism in Kerala, while the amount vwas Rs 22.34 crore in 2004-05 and Rs 13.25 crore in 2003-04.

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