Skeptics pooh-pooh govt claims!

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Despite apprehensions that the tourism season could bear the brunt of a European economic slowdown this time, state government figures show that the foreign tourist inflow to the state went up by 11.18 percent in 2011 as compared to the previous year. According to the government, 7,32,985 foreign tourists visited Kerala during the year, as compared to 6,59,265 in 2010.

Official figures further show that domestic tourists also kept their interest in Kerala alive with 93,81,455 of them visiting the major tourism destinations in the state, compared to 85,95,075 in 2010. This is a growth of 9.15 per cent compared to 2010.

Foreign tourists brought in Rs 4,223 crore of foreign exchange in 2011, an increase of nearly 12 per cent from 2010.

Domestic tourist arrivals also went up by 9.15 per cent in 2011 compared to the previous year. The total earnings (foreign and domestic) by tourism establishments in the state for this period stood at about Rs 19,037 crore, a hike of 9.74 per cent over the previous year.

Though the figures showed an upward trend in 2011, the rate of growth it seems has come down compared to the good showing in 2010. In fact, 2010 recorded over 30 per cent growth in revenue over 2009.

Ernakulam district showed the maximum number in foreign tourist arrivals followed by Thiruvananthapuram, as per the trend over the last decade. While 3,08,674 foreign tourists arrived in Ernakulam, 2,04,049 arrived in Thiruvananthapuram in 2011.

After the two districts, significant foreign tourist footfalls were recorded in Idukki and Alappuzha, where 55,778 and 46019 foreign tourists arrived respectively.

But tourism managers claimed that the continuing interest from domestic tourists from other parts of the country about locales in Kerala was a matter of bigger satisfaction for them. While Ernakulam continued to lead in attracting domestic tourists (19,87,743), Thrissur (18,74,211) was the next favourite destination. Thiruvananthapuram (11,60,640) came third.

According to the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) chief marketing manager G.S. Rajmohan, KTDC saw a greater footfall of domestic tourists in traditional tourism spots like Kovalam, Munnar and Thekkady. “But we have some concerns about Kumarakom and Kochi for the year,” he said.

Some in the industry have also reservations about the government figures. The Confederation of Tourism Industry president E.M. Najeeb said,

“There are chances of multiple counting of tourist footfalls (by government statisticians). For example if a tourist books a hotel in Kovalam and Munnar for a week-long stay, he may be counted as two based on reports received from the two destinations,” he said.

He also was unhappy with the lack of support from the state government when the tourism sector was going through a rough patch. “We are yet to see the promised tourism policy.

The industry gave its clearance for the policy way back in October. But unfortunately, the government is yet to announce it.”

This, he said, was happening when neighbouring states were going ahead with aggressive marketing campaigns and attractive incentives for investors in the tourism sector.