State to draw up new comprehensive tourism policy

Thiruvananthapuram: The State government is drawing up a comprehensive tourism policy to fully tap the state's potential in the sector and woo more international as well as domestic visitors.

Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran told the state Assembly that the policy would cover all aspects for the overall development, including solid waste management issue, a major challenge faced by the tourism sector.

"There is a tourism policy announced in 2012. We are mulling to bring timely changes in this and formulate a fresh comprehensive policy," he said during the Question Hour.

An aggressive online and offline campaign was being carried out to project the state as a wedding and conference destination.

The service of as many as 180 specially trained 'tourism police' personnel and 137 life guards have been ensured in various holiday destinations, he said detailing steps taken up for the safety of holidayers visiting the state.

Road shows and trade fairs were organised in various foreign countries to expand the state tourism market abroad, the Minister said.

According to Tourism Department figures, Kerala, popularly known as God's Own Country, has registered a 6.23 per cent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in 2016 at more than 10.38 lakh visitors as against 9.77 lakh in 2015.