Tourism is a global phenomenon. It is an expression of man's natural



instinct to move from one place to another and to appreciate the handiwork

of the Great Creative Original Artist !

India with her naturally beautiful lakes, backwaters, beaches, hills and

forests is one of the best tourist attractions in the world. If a tourist

wants trekking and mountaineering, which mountains in the world can compete

with the Himalayas ? If he wants exposure to the sea and the sun, where else

would he find thousands of miles of virgin beaches against the background of

swaying coconut palms ? If he wants to visit ancient ruins or sites, which

country can match the monuments of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Sikh

and Christian faiths ? If he wants to move far from the Madding Crowd, away

from modern Civilization, where else can he find such natural beauties like

the Andamans with their thick rain forest and the Lakshadweep islands with

their sparkling clear waters ? If he wants to study and research Ayurveda

and Yoga, where else can be find Ayurvedic and Yogic retreats run by bona

fide Yogis and Ayurvedic Doctors ?

Kerala and Kashmir are two outstanding states known for their intrinsic

natural beauty. While Kashmir resembles the beauty of a cine actress, Kerala

on the other hand resembles an aristocratic damsel. Strategically located at

the South Western tip of India, Kerala has unique geographic features which

make her one of the most sought after tourist destination spots in Asia.

This puny state is a breathtakingly ravishing greenland. Excellent

investment opportunities in Tourism Industry is bestowed by this state

with her natural endowments like tranquil beaches, exhilarating hill

stations, soothing backwaters, spectacular art forms , historic monuments,

rejuvenating health packages, year round festivals & exotic wildlife. The

tourist is enriched by a unique experience, having tasted a strikingly

beautiful land as the Lord made it, and this enchants him throughout his

life.

Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, will be donning the robe of the

industrial hub of South India, in terms of development & infrastructure,

within a couple of years. . IT, BT, Service Sector Companies & owners of

hotels & resorts will make a beeline for space in this city and she will

become the home of thousands of well trained professionals.

An investment of almost 30000 crores is in the offing with 20000 crores

coming from the Central Government and this investment will favour IT, BT,

Eductiona and Tourism sectors. Here are some projects in the pipeline

GAIL Petro Project 7000 crores, ICTT, Vallarpadam 2118

Petronet LNG 2200, KRL Single Buoy Mooring

KRL- BPCL City Gasification, Subsea Pipeline, Kochi Kayamkulam NTPC Phase,

Boating Marina, Internaltional Bunkering Terminal

Real Estate & Hangar Expansion of CIAL, Smart City, Fashion City

Tourists do not complain about the lack of infrastructure. On the other hand

the absence of such facilities such as phone, TV, AC etc is the USP of

Kerala. Nature in her pristine purity is preserved and it is upto the

tourist traveller to enjoy it. Does not Naturopathy advocate living in

harmony with Nature ? Modern Civilization has moved away from Nature, with

its emphasis on Fast food and the Digital Era. " Back to the Wisdom of

Nature" seems to be the motto of Kerala. Does not Kerala echo Wordsworth ?

( " Nature never did betray the heart that loved her " ! )

The modern term luxury means ' opulence of the built up space " but should

be redefined as the ' enriching quality of the experience '. If one can

commune with Nature at her original best, cant that experience be called "

luxury"? Wordsworth, a Nature lover, remarked

With bliss ineffable, I felt

The sentiment of Being spread around

Over all that liveth and all that moveth still !

Such Cosmic Consciousness is possible only in a Nature blessed land !

Innovations in Tourism like Farm Tourism & Monsoon Tourism have paid rich

dividends. The success in Farm Tourism was illustrated by Philip Kutty's

example - the entire rural landscape is transformed by its adaptations. The

erstwhile poachers of the Periyar Tiger Reserve have changed into guides .

Tourism has reinvigorated and put new life into a rather dolorific rural &

agri economy. Farm stays, home stays & tourist visits are increasing, thus

transforming the state's core sector

Kerala, despite her economic backwardness, is the most egalitarian &

literate state. To quote Burton Stein, 'Not only did Kerala launch an

exemplary land reform programme, but it also devoted relatively large

expenditures to basic education and health care, making the state the most

egalitarian, best educated and healthiest in the Indian Union, though it

remained among the poorest.' National Geographic defined Kerala as a 'Mount

Everest of social development' and a must see in a life time destination !

Lack of industrial infrastructure may have drawn criticism from many

quarters. But it has saved Kerala from pollution and the modern fast food

culture and made her achieve much in the social sector and get a relatively

pristine environment, which has made a her a powerful must see in the

tourist map of Incredible India !

The agri sector is reinvigorated by the surging demand for organic food,

especially with the tourism inducted markets. Kerala's agri & knowledge

base, based more or less in Ayurveda & Naturopathy, enable her to emerge as

one of the largest producers of organic foods, including spices, rice and

tropical fruits.

Statistical Research carried out by Peter Aderhold revealed that there are

two types of travelles. The ' Sun-Sand-Surf"(SSS) and the other the " Alert

Independent Traveller "(AIT). While SSS is the mass market and AIT the newly

emerging niche, AIT is the rising star, according to the latest research.

The SSS category traveller will prefer Goa with her beaches while the AIT

will favour "God's Own Country", Kerala !