Travel

Time magazine laurel boosts Kerala’s post-pandemic tourism hopes

Time magazine has accorded special mention to the Kerala’s Caravan Tourism project

Pandemic-hit, it indeed was. But Kerala Tourism rose from its coronavirus-induced lull in flying colours. The latest testimony comes from the globally popular Time magazine, which has featuring the southern Indian state’s tourism sector in its 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in 2022. Not a small achievement, this.

The Time magazine has showered laurels on Kerala stating that it is as one of India’s most beautiful states with spectacular beaches, lush backwaters, temples, and palaces. Special mention has been accorded to the state’s newest Caravan Tourism project saying that this year, Kerala is boosting motor-home tourism in India to inspire a new pas de deux of exploration and accommodation. The state’s first caravan park, Karavan Meadows, opened in Vagamon, a scenic hill station.

Kerala is God’s Own Country for good reason, says Time

Applauding the success of the state’s houseboat cruising, Time said caravans are expected to follow suit with a similar promise of sustainable tourism as a large number of campers are expected to traverse the land, giving a fresh and unique way to experience Kerala’s beaches and verdant plantations. Kerala is known as “God’s Own Country” for good reason, it added.

Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas elaborated the honour as an emphatic recognition of the state’s new initiatives to promote tourism in tune with ecological imperatives and sustainability. “We are also making earnest efforts to facilitate tourists to visit unexplored places that dot our scenic state,” he said.

Featuring in TIME magazine’s world’s greatest places to explore in the ongoing year will give a big push to the state’s continued initiatives to regain its buoyancy in international tourism circuits and promote tourism in a safe and hospitable manner, he added.

According to K S Srinivas, Principal Secretary, Tourism, the inclusion of Kerala in Time’s list is a matter of enormous pride for the state. The pioneering initiatives like caravan tourism and the upcoming events like the second edition of the Champions Boat League will give a huge fillip to tourism in the state, he pointed out.

Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh added that Kerala figuring in Time’s list is an endorsement of the state’s conscious and sustained endeavours to bring into focus the unexplored places that would kindle interest among the tourists. The results have already started showing; footfalls have increased substantially in the post-pandemic phase.

Ahmedabad also in the list

To compile this year’s list of the World’s Greatest Places, Time solicited nominations of places from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye towards those offering new and exciting experiences. Another Indian destination that has found entry in the list is Ahmedabad city, which is India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City.

The list also includes Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE; Park City, Utah; Seoul; Great Barrier Reef, Australia; the Grand Canyon of the Arctic Circle, Valencia, Spain; Trans Bhutan Trail, Bhutan; International Space Station; Bogota; Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia; Istanbul; the historic Silk Roads of Uzbekistan; Jamaica; Bali, Indonesia; and Kigali, Rwanda.

The 50 destinations to make the cut include both popular ones and less-explored spots, but what unites them is that they are “thriving, growing and changing,” said Time, “charting a path to economic recovery” and “investing in sustainability.” It also noted that with much of the global population now vaccinated against Covid-19, world travellers are again hitting the road and the skies. The hospitality industry is reopening and excited to safely welcome them and revitalize local communities.

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Sanjeev Ramachandran

A journalist with 23 years of experience, Sanjeev has worked with reputed media houses such as Business Standard, The Ne More »

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