The tourist arrivals to Kerala has registered a 21 per cent growth from the pre-pandemic period, reaching 2,22,46,989 numbers in 2024, according to P A Mohamed Riyas, Tourism Minister.
The increase in arrivals indicates that the state has been removing its previous record in the last couple of years, the Minister said.
He said that the government plans to implement the K-Homes project announced in the Budget 2025-26 initially at Kovalam, Kumarakom, Munnar and Fort Kochi. The intention of the project is to enhance accommodation for tourists by making use of unoccupied homes near major tourist destinations.
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The K-Homes project will take the growth of tourism to new heights, as it offers the tourists a comfortable stay and a hands-on feel of local culture and cuisine. Special arrangements will be made for the implementation of the K-Homes project including online booking of stays in K-Homes, the Minister said.
The K-Homes project is expected to strengthen Kerala’s hospitality sector. The state already has a large number of five-star and premium hotels while government rest houses provide affordable and clean accommodation options for tourists.
A project to bring women stakeholders in tourism sector under a single umbrella has been drawn up as part of initiatives to strengthen women-friendly tourism. So far, 17631 women have registered under the project through the Responsible Tourism Mission Society.
Kerala Tourism signed MoU with Kerala Startup Mission to leverage the innovation ecosystem for tourism development. The pact envisaged a slew of innovative ideas including the dissemination of information on digital platforms regarding destinations and tourist amenities, the Minister said.
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Farm Tourism is another segment identified for further development. The Responsible Tourism Mission Society has imparted training for 952 units. In this segment, 452 units are found to be performing well, out of which 103 units have been listed in the RT Mission’s website.