WTTC report on Kerala tourism

[Roye98]

The World’s Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) collaborated with the Kerala Government a few years back to come up with a report called Tourism Satellite Account for Kerala in which the State’s performance in the tourism sector was analysed in detail. It also foresaw a bright future for Kerala in this sector and true to its findings, Kerala soon rose to become one of the favourite destinations of international tourists, though the State had been rather late to tap its tourism potential in the most effective way.

The report states that the majority of the tourists are lured by the coastal resorts of the State and it includes mainly Kochi, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode etc. Backwater destinations like Kumarakom, Alappuzaha, Kollam, Kochi etc and the beaches of Varkala, Kovalam, Marari, Kannur and Bekal are capable of drawing millions of tourists a year. Other hot tourist spots in Kerala are hill stations like Wayanad, Munnar, Vagamon and Ponmudi.

Kerala is also blessed with wildlife sanctuaries and many wildlife tourists visit Kerala just to trek to these sanctuaries, which are also known for rich biodiversity. They include Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikkulam Wildlife sanctuary, Silent Valley, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary etc.Another group of tourists is interested in the various ayurvedic packages offered by the resorts in Kerala and the State has started exploring the possibilities of the health and wellness tourism. The State can also boast of nurturing folk and classic art, performances and music from time immemorial and this rich cultural heritage is so irresistible for a cultural tourist, according to the report by WTTC.