The serene beaches, emerald backwaters, lush hill stations, exotic wildlife, waterfalls, sprawling plantations and enchanting art forms of Kerala that charm holidayers from around the world will adorn the country’s superfast train Rajdhani Express.
The 2431/2432 Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Expresses with paintings on tourist attractions of God’s Own Country is to be flagged off by Union Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja from Nizamuddin station on January 17. Kerala Minister for Tourism and Home Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is to attend the programme.
The Rajdhani Express that links New Delhi to the State capitals offers the unique opportunity of experiencing Indian Railways at its best. It is for the first time that the tourist attractions of a State are being featured on the coaches of the country’s prestigious train.
“It is part of the innovative promotion strategy to enhance more visibility for the destination and unique tourism products the State has to offer and to attract domestic tourists to Kerala in the coming days,” Director of Tourism M. Shivasankar told The Hindu.
All the 17 coaches of the superfast fully air-conditioned Rajdhani Express have been painted with distinct images of Kerala. As the train traverses Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka en route to Thiruvananthapuram and back, Mr. Shivasankar said, it would promote the tourist destinations in a big way.
Tourism Secretary V. Venu said it was the most innovative and exciting promotion strategy adopted by Kerala Tourism till date. “This is going to do wonders for the State,” he said. The State had managed to adorn the colours of Kerala at a whopping cost of Rs.1.2 crore and the promotion would be for the next six months.
The strategy to attract domestic tourists in a big way comes in the wake of the apprehensions about the decline in international tourist arrivals due to recession. Kerala Tourism is all set to kick off a three-month campaign across the country from February 1 to attract more domestic travellers. The national campaign will commence with the Kerala Tourism Partnership Meet in Chandigarh on February 1.
