Kerala aiming to be "shoppers stop"

Kannur, Aug 15 (UNI) Kerala Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today said the State government was aiming to make the state ''an International shopping destination'' in ten-year.

Inaugurating Gold and Silver Merchants registration to the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival here, he said the State government had allotted Rs 20 crore for the festival this year as against Rs 15 crore released last year for the festival.

In the last festival, the total turn over in December 2007 and January this year was Rs 90 crore and Rs 120 crore, respectively.

The state government had earned huge amount as sales tax, Mr Kodiyeri added.

Special melas like 'crafts mela' in Malappuram, 'Handlooms mela' in Kannur, 'coir mela' at Alappuzha, and Ernakulam, 'cashew mela' at Kollam and Tribal festival and 'spices mela' at Wayanad would also be organised, he added.

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