Tourism is a major industry. It is the responsibility of the State government to utilise the State’s potential to attract more tourists to Kerala, Governor P. Sathasivam has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating Vasanthotsavam being organised by the Tourism Department as part of the Loka Kerala Sabha at Kanakakkunnu here on Sunday.
The Governor urged the Tourism Minister to hold talks with private airlines, as has been done by Puducherry, to increase connectivity within the State and outside. Some initial concessions may need to be given till traffic picks up, he said.
There was need to improve connectivity from the south of the State to the north as widening roads was a difficult proposition here. He suggested flights to Mangaluru and Panaji from Kozhikode, as also to more cities. This would help in attracting more tourists from other States, especially neighbouring ones, he said.
Mr. Sathasivam said Vasanthotsavam was a floral carpet being rolled out to welcome representatives of non-resident Keralites who would participate in the Loka Kerala Sabha to take forward the development dreams of the State. It would showcase the pristine beauty and rich agricultural heritage of the State before the world.
With more people realising the need for organic farming and agripreneurship, people were coming forward to cultivate and market ornamental plants. The climate in the State was favourable for cultivating flower crops in protected environments. The global flower demand was for ₹90,000 crore, but India’s contribution was less than 1 per cent. Therefore, floriculture must be encouraged in every household, the Governor said.
Along with vegetable cultivation, people were also growing medicinal plants in their homesteads, thereby protecting the State’s herbal wealth. He had started a medicinal plants garden in Raj Bhavan with over 200 types of medicinal plants growing in 2.5 acres of land, he said.
He stressed the need for disseminating information related to agriculture, including innovative practices and subsidies, to farmers in time in the local language rather than English alone.
Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran said though Vasanthotsavam was being organised as part of Loka Kerala Sabha this year, in the years ahead it would be organised as Vasanthotsavam flower show by the Tourism Department with the support of other departments and organisations.
It would become a major event on the tourism calendar of the State, he said.
The Governor’s wife Saraswathi Sathasivam, K. Muraleedharan, MLA, Mayor V.K. Prasanth, Tourism Secretary Rani George, Forests Principal Secretary V. Venu, and Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd. chairman and managing director K.G. Mohanlal were present at the function.
Among the many attractions at the week-long Vasanthotsavam are a sacred grove, medicinal and ornamental plants, recreation of tribal life and settlements and of forest life, exhibition of farm products, aqua show, butterfly garden, and food festival.
