Summary:
For this purpose, I request you to include Kerala tourism in tourism ministry’s Incredible India campaign,” Surendran said in his letter.Surendran’s letter comes close on the heels of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s missive to Prime Minister Narendra Modi , expressing his displeasure with the Centre for appointing ITDC ( India Tourism Development Corporation ) as the implementing agency of the Sivagiri project. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran , in a letter sent to Union minister of state for tourism K J Alphons , criticized the Centre for taking ‘unilateral decisions’ with regard to projects in the state’s tourism sector.Surendran’s main criticism was on the Centre’s proposed ‘Cultural festival of India’ in the state on February 23 and 24, which according to Alphons is ‘to revive the flood-ravaged tourism industry of Kerala’. The cultural festival, which is expected to feature art forms of 10 states and participation of around 150 artists, is scheduled to be held at Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur and Amal Jyothi Engineering College, Kanjirappally “In Kerala, the festival season, attract a lot of domestic as well as foreign tourists, commences this month. The proposed festivals on February 23 and 24 do not make significant effect in boosting the tourism industry, as so many festivals are being conducted all over the state during that days,” the letter said.“Before taking such unilateral decisions, it is better to consult the state government, which will ensure proper coordination of events and uphold federal principles,” it added.“In order to boost the Kerala tourism industry, what actually needed is to give maximum publicity and marketing, highlighting the well placed state of post-flood Kerala Tourism..