The budget has provisioned for as many as 10 helipads across the State, enabling last mile connectivity to tourist and pilgrim centres. This is part of the strategy to promote domestic tourist arrivals to the State.Guruvayur, Kalpetta, Palakkad, Munnar, Thekkady, Alappuzha beach, Kollam Asramam Maidan, Varkala, Kumarakom, and Kasaragod have been identified for helipads.The tourism sector has been provided a total outlay of Rs.311.57 crore for 24 schemes. The KTDC and DTPCs will get Rs.6.5 crore each, Rs.8.5 crore for HR development in tourism, Rs.35 crore for marketing initiatives, and Rs.7.5 crore for Kochi-Muziris Biennale.The new scheme to develop existing, new and lesser known destinations directly and through PPP mode has been provided Rs.25 crore and Heritage and Spice Route Project Rs.18 crore. The Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady Eco Tourism Project (Rs.100 crore), Sree Padmanabha Aranmula Pilgrim Tourism Circuit (Rs.100 crore) and Erumely-Pampa- Sannidhanam Pilgrim Circuit (Rs.100 crore) will be established with the support of the Centre in 2016-17.
