State sees 20.37 per cent hike in tourist arrivals: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 (UNI) Kerala Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today informed the State Assembly that with the proper marketing and promotion of tourism, the State had achieved 20.37 per cent increase in the arrival of foreign tourists.

Replying to questions by Mr P T A Rahim (IND), he said, however, in the domestic tourism, it could achieve only six per cent during the last season.

Though in the first two months there had been a decreasing flow of foreign tourists to the state because of negative propaganda against it, it regained momentum later, he added.

Mr Balakrishnan said for providing better service and security to the tourists, the Government had constituted a special police team.

The Government was also planning to promote all tourism destinations in the state with the cooperation of MLAs in the respective areas, he added.

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